In January of 2005, Graebel Quality Movers partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of King and Pierce Counties to participate in a school-based mentoring program at  Cascade View Elementary School in Tukwila. Currently, ten Graebel employees volunteer as Bigs, and one has completed the application to begin mentoring in the fall. Graebel Bigs spend one hour with their Little each week during the school year. The pair remain on the school grounds and engage in activities like chess, tetherball, crafts, computer games, and tutoring. Often, the time together is spent talking - mostly about what is going on in the LIttles' lives and minds. Graebel has fully embraced the Big Brothers Big Sisters school-based mentoring program and encourages all staff to participate. We believe in this program and support our volunteers by accommodating the time out of the office and compensating for this special mentoring time.

From the beginning, the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization has been professional and attentive in our relationship. Engaging in a program like this and promoting it internally throughout our organization is a significant commitment, and can be frightening when you are uncertain of the outcome. Recognizing this, the Big Brothers Big Sisters administrative staff went to extraordinary lengths to answer our questions and assist in the implementation process. On two occasions, they sent teams to our office to outline the programs in PowerPoint presentations and answer the questions to potential volunteers. They walked us through each step of the application process. When our interviews were scheduled, their interviewers came from Seattle to our office in Kent, in order to minimize our time away from the office. Once the evaluation process was completed, they selected a school close to our office, and carefully profiled each Big and Little to match common interests and values. On the first day of each match, the match specialist from Big Brothers Big Sisters was on-site to introduce the pair and help us through any awkwardness or nervousness that aroes during that first meeting. A pictures was taken that day, which was later framed and given to each Big as a thank you gift for their service. In every way, the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization has remained professional, timely, thorough, and a pleasure to work with. It has been clear to us that each of their staff members fully embrace the mission of this organization and operate with passion and intensity.

Over the last eighteen months, our involvement in Big Brothers Big Sisters has become an established and celebrated part of our company culture.  Each week, Bigs return from our school with stories about playing chess, tetherball or computer games. The ladies sometimes have new bracelets or artwork, though the guys really aren’t into that kind of thing.  This year, Graebel’s Customer Service Manager MaryAnn Vivirito had a 10-year-old Little who discovered boys and wanted to talk about it.  She asked her Big Sister for advice, and of course, MaryAnn had plenty to give. Her Little responded with, “you are supposed to be my big sister – not my mother.”  Stories like these are a weekly occurrence.  They lighten our company atmosphere, brighten our moods, and remind us that service to others is what really matters most – in business and in life. The opportunity to be involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters makes us a stronger company and offers our employees a more positive, hopeful place to work.

I strongly encourage any company considering a corporate partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters to take the leap. The impact on Graebel Quality Movers has been profound and positive, and we are excited to see the relationship grow and flourish in the years to come.

- David Cox, General Manager