Uncovering the Secret to Their Success

by Tamara Lytle
US News and World Report: NATION & WORLD; Pg. 34 Vol. 146 No. 10
November 1, 2009

FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE ON NEWS STANDS

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Karen Mathis is quoted in this article about mentoring, which features Rep. Adam Schiff, a California former Little and Big Brother. 

In the article, Mathis says:
"Mentoring ranges from professional pairings like that of Baiul and Zmievskaya to casual relationships like the type that grew between musicians Ray Charles and Quincy Jones to formal programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters, which has more than 260,000 young people matched with volunteer mentors. "Leadership is taught. It is not innate," says Karen Mathis, head of Big Brothers Big Sisters. "Our nation, our communities need leaders. Yet there aren't that many places that teach leadership. Mentoring is probably the most effective way of influencing a younger person's life. There's not even a close second." Studies show that kids in formal mentoring programs have lower incidences of drug use, violence, teen pregnancy, and truancy than their peers, a track record that draws volunteers like Schiff."