Friday, September 18, 2009

A Quick Office Update

The leaves are changing, school's back in session and people are starting to wear socks with thier sandals again. Must be Fall.

Fall is probably the busiest time of year at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Program staff start reconnecting School Buddies matches that have lost touch over the summer, we start making new matches, Fund Development kicks Gala planning into high gear, and we're all out trying to spread the word about mentoring.

We have two new staff members: Laurel and Jenny. Jenny's our new Match Support Specialist, working in the Community-Based Program, while Laurel is helping out as a new School Buddies Coordinator.

We're all thinking about leaving the office early and going to jump in some leaf piles. Happy Fall, everybody!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Study demonstrates mentoring's effect on communities

Check out http://http://www.preventionaction.org/what-works/ctc/5072 for an interesting article about the further impact of mentoring.

Turns out mentoring reaches out far beyond just the two individuals (The Big and The Little) to affect the whole community. Kids from a community with solid mentoring programs are less likely to start using alcohol, less likely to start smoking, and less likely to be involved in binge drinking.

We at BBBSNW already knew these facts for the kids with mentors, but this study shows the benefits reach out far beyond the individuals. In fact, this study from the University of Washington found that kids from communities without mentors were 41% more likely to participate in delinquent behavior.

All this just goes to affirm the BBBSNW vision: successful mentoring relationships contribute to brighter futures, better schools and stronger communities.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Breakthrough Study Illustrates the Power of Mentoring

A new study by Harris Interactive on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has found that children mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are more likely than their peers to have four year college degrees and incomes of more than $75,000.

Click below to learn more.

http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/20090616/PH3204016062009-1.html

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