How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world. – Ann Frank
What if every child was put on the right path today? What if every child in America graduated high school, went to college, and gave back to their communities? What could that start? It might be the start of something big.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we are deeply committed to our mission to partner with community members to match caring adults (Bigs) with children (Littles), both of whom benefit from our one-on-one mentoring programs. Mentoring is a proven strategy that changes how our children grow up in America (including Grayson, Fannin, and Lamar Counties) by meeting critical needs and engaging all levels of our community. Our goal is to help children ages 6 - 14 build the attitudes and behaviors needed to stay in school, succeed academically, make healthy choices, and create promising futures.
One great story from Big Sister Diane: I have lunch with my little brother, 10 years old, every week at his school. Every time I leave the school I always have a smile on my face and today was a big smile with tears. My little brother told me today that I was a Hero. He explained to me that I take time every week to drive to school to see him. Then he said, "That is what a real Hero does!" Every week he always tells me that I'm his best friend and that he has been excited all morning because he knew I was visiting that day. I spend only 30 minutes with him a week and I can tell that it makes his day and mine. There are lots of children that need a mentor. If you have 30 minutes to spare a week then I would suggest that you look into being a Big.
Nearly 30% of the state’s youth live in single-parent households; the majority of these kids also lack the support, interaction and influence from positive adult men. With a waiting list of boys (which is over 65%) there is a profound need for men to become their Big Brother through the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. Predominantly, females volunteer more often and at a greater rate than their counterparts.
Having a Big Brother or Big Sister changes the perspective – and changes the lives – of local children every day. Mentoring is simple, you just hang out for an hour once a week with a great kid doing stuff you already do or want to do like: playing video games, playing sports, going for a bike ride, going fishing, watching a ball game, building a model truck, or anything else you enjoy doing.
Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends and others get together during the evenings in the Community-based program. There are even some Bigs that visit their Little at the elementary or middle school campus during the school day with the School-based program. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them. There are programs for Couples and Families to get involved also.
During the 2010-2011 school year, Big Brothers Big Sisters traced the percentage of School-based Littles who were successfully promoted to the next grade level (or graduated from high school). 94.6% of School Based program youth promoted and 94.2% of Community-based program youth were promoted to the next grade.
In challenging economic times, it is easy to think of mentoring as a luxury; something that would be nice for a child, if only…. But the truth is, the long term effects of having just one extra caring adult in the life of a child are real and we cannot afford to wait. Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters, which focuses on prevention, cost less in the long run than programs that focus on intervention. Big Brothers Big Sisters helps ensure that fewer people will join the ranks of unemployed, under-employed, public assistance recipients, or homeless citizens, simply by helping children stay in school. When young people improve relationships with their teachers, develop more confidence in their academic performance, and stay in school, they achieve better grades and academic success. Improved grades and staying in school create a higher probability that they will graduate from high school. With diplomas, they can go on to other education and training, become eligible for higher-paying jobs, and have a stronger foundation for leading positive lives and contributing to their communities.
The need is great for people to become volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters. The one hour per week volunteer time is very highly beneficial to children, as well as to the volunteers. I encourage you to consider this great opportunity and Start Something for kids in our community.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a volunteer organization that provides children support, guidance, friendship and fun by matching them to adult role models. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves this mission through a professional staff that carefully works with the volunteers and the children to ensure that the experience of Big Brothers Big Sisters is dynamic, fulfilling, memorable and fun for both the child and the volunteer. For more information, visit www.bbbstx.org or call 888.887.BIGS.
Emily Neeley
Big Sister and Donor
Regional Executive Director
Grayson, Fannin, and Lamar Counties