1386869505007-Mm-Hh-billards1This January, Big Brothers Big Sisters is inviting the nation to treat its 200,000 “Bigs” like the celebrities they are in the eyes of their “Littles.”  For its part, on “Thank your Mentor Day” (January 16), the national mentoring organization is sending e-cards to all their current Bigs.  Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters Northwest Arkansas will hold its annual Celebrate Little Moments event on January 30 to recognize their Bigs of the Year for 2014.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President & CEO Charles Pierson states that, “While Bigs are often ordinary people in regular professions, we have learned from alumni Littles that to them, their Bigs were like superstars.  That’s why this National Mentoring Month, we’re doing what we can to make them feel that way.”

Longstanding independent research as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters’ ongoing program evaluations show that children enrolled in the program improve in school, in behavior, and in socio-emotional areas. Big Brothers Big Sisters has developed the premier mentoring program through 109 years of service and experience.  There are 40 children on the local waiting list who are hoping to have a Big Brother or Big Sister soon. Two things are needed to move them off the waiting list:  volunteer mentors and the financial support necessary to professionally evaluate need and monitor safety.  It costs approximately $1000 a year to make and supervise a match, but the results are truly a priceless gift to us all — confident, successful children become adults who contribute positively to their communities.

During National Mentoring Month, celebrate the superstars of mentoring, The Bigs, through “time or treasure.”  Become a Big or donate to support your local Big Brothers Big Sister program.

 

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships.  Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course.  The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 100-year history.  As one of 339 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas served over 225 children last year.  Headquartered in Fayetteville we service Benton and Washington County.  Along with the National office and affiliates, we are engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members.  Learn more at reunitenow.org or find out about our local efforts at bbbsnwa.org.