Big Brother Big Sisters is a volunteer based organization built on placing caring adults as mentors to children who have faced adverse circumstance in their lives. As their website (bbbs.org) states:

“For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brother Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (Bigs) and children (Littles), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.”

Key components of Big Brothers Big Sisters center around the well-being and future functionality of the child. This program can be the beginning of a very bright future for a child whose life has not been impacted by positivity. As a teacher in Title I (economically disadvantaged) schools, I was absolutely overjoyed when a child became a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I knew that the child would:

1. Change for the better in ways I could only imagine

2. Care more seriously about the world around him/her

3. Be able to focus more often on school and friendships

4. Achieve a happy and confident demeanor

 

The following is a short video of one person’s wonderful experience being a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program:

 

Having observed the program success,

I was beyond thrilled when our daughter

decided to join Big Brothers Big Sisters as  a

mentor to a deserving eight year old boy.

 

Our daughter and her husband recently took Colby to his first hibachi restaurant!

 

Colby became our daughter’s “Little Brother” when he was 8 years old and in the 2nd grade. He is now a well behaved and polite 14 year old in the 8th grade. Our daughter had been out of college for a few years and was teaching elementary school. She became very aware of the needs of the students at her school and soon signed up for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Colby was not at her school, but she quickly became involved with mentoring him.

My husband and I have been so honored to be a part of Colby’s growing up years. The strides he has made are amazing. No longer the busy and overly talkative 8 year old, he is now quiet spoken, still spirited, yet so proud of his achievements. At a family dinner a few weeks ago, he entertained our daughter’s little cousins with ease. Colby talked about sports and the musical instrument he is learning to play. He talks about possible future plans with confidence. Colby has become a promising teenager with personal goals and aspirations.

Colby is confident and self-assured because of Big Brothers Big Sisters and our daughter’s willingness to volunteer.

Congratulations, Colby!

You’ve come a long way!

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