St. Paul, Minn. – Think you can’t make a difference in your community? Think again. Just one hour a week can change a young person’s life. Volunteers in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities’ (BBBS) School-based Program meet with young people for an hour once a week at one of more than 35 participating schools. This program is an excellent opportunity for busy professionals and students who may participate during their lunch hour.
BBBS needs YOU! In the Twin Cities metro area, there are 35 schools that are in need of more mentors. What if you don’t know algebra? No problem! Big Brothers and Big Sisters in this program are friends, not tutors. To participate in the program you only need to know how to be a friend to a young person. It really is that simple.
Young people in the BBBS program are between the ages of 7 and 13 when matched with a mentor. They may need help building self-esteem, improving school performance or simply connecting with an adult friend they trust. Matches engage in activities based on their unique interests, including reading, playing educational games, playing sports or creating art projects.
“Young people who have a caring mentor in their lives are significantly more likely to do well in school, to have better communication skills and to have positive relationships with the adults in their lives,” says Gloria Lewis, BBBS President and CEO. “We know from working closely with our Little Brothers and Sisters, their families, teachers and school administrators that one hour a week really does make a difference.”
Being matched with caring mentors gives young people the invaluable gift of friendship, which helps them develop self-esteem, honesty and responsibility. Studies have shown that 65 percent of students in the School-based Program develop a more positive attitude towards school, 79 percent are able to better express their feelings, 70 percent improve their relationships with adults and 57 percent improve their use of community resources.
Become a mentor at a school in your community today! If you or someone you know wants to be a Big Brother or Big Sister call us at 651-789-2400 or visit our website at www.bigstwincities.org. A LITTLE Bit of You Makes a BIG Difference!
About BBBS
For 88 years, BBBS has been matching young people ages 7-13 with adult, volunteer mentors. Big Brothers and Big Sisters provide friendship, emotional support and hope to young people. BBBS serves 11 counties in the Twin Cities metro region, including Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, McLeod, Ramsey, Scott, Washington and Wright.
BBBS offers programs to meet the needs of a wide variety of volunteer interests. Community-based mentors meet with their Little Brother or Sister two to four times per month at the locations of their choice. School-based mentors meet with their Little Brother or Sister once per week at the young person's school. What matters to young people is not what they do with their mentors, but the fact that they have a caring adult in their lives who listens when they talk about their problems, fears, hopes, dreams and successes.
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