Elise Glad of Uniontown, a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, was hanging out with her “Little” on Sunday. They were enjoying all the activities at the organization’s Summer Fest event, which drew hundreds of people on a beautiful, sunny day to Twin Lakes Park east of Greensburg.

“I love hanging out and going to a lot of places with my Big Sister,” said Da’Zaire White, 11, of Uniontown, Glad’s Little Sister.

She also was spending the afternoon with her sister, Dez’ahrae White, 9, enjoying all of the activities.

Glad and White were among several hundred people taking part in Summer Fest along the lower lake of Twin Lakes, where they could enjoy face painting, sand art, bingo, dogs and a cornhole tournament over a five-hour period. For the older people in the crowd, a rock ‘n’ roll band from Latrobe performed.

The Summer Fest is a first for the region’s Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter, said Stephanie Babich Mihleder, executive director of the Laurel Region chapter. In past years, the group has held a bowling tournament as a big fundraiser, but that has become more challenging during covid.

Mihleder said she was expecting about 800 people to stop by during Summer Fest. With so many people at the event, it is a way of raising visibility for the organization, she said.

“We wanted to do something for the community that was a better fit for our mission,” Mihleder said.

The organization raised money by charging for activities. Half of its budget is generated through fundraisers, Mihleder said.

Helping to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters were about 30 students from Hempfield Area. They are members of United Spartans and were volunteering their time to assist with the games and activities, said Katie Kertoy, a Hempfield Area High School teacher and adviser to the club.

Among those enjoying the activities were Taylor Mehan of Greensburg and her 4-year-old son, Leo, who were taking in the festivities.

As she moved through the crowd, selling raffle cards to raise money, Glad, 26, said she has been involved with the organization for two years.

“It is another way of giving back to the community,” she said.

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