School Buddies!

 With Big Brothers Big Sisters, there are multiple ways to get involved with the community- the School-Based Mentoring Program is an innovative approach created by Big Brothers Big Sisters to reach a more diverse population of children. The program is designed to improve youth’s social skills as well as foster academic performance. The volunteer meets with the student on the school campus, once a week during school hours, for a minimum of one school year. They play games, shoot hoops, just hang out or work on homework. We have found that programs that encourage activities with a socio-emotional focus are more likely to have greater academic impact, higher quality and longer duration compared to programs that focus on academic/tutoring activities.

Here is a message from one of our participating elementary school teachers:

The Big Sister program has had an instant and amazing impact on my two students. I have never seen them beam as much since they’ve had this opportunity to connect with an older ‘sister’ buddy. The attention they receive seems to fill up their emotional tank.  Both seem so much less needy in the classroom. I am truly impressed. 

-Happy Valley Elementary Teacher

For more information on the School Buddies Program contact Colleen Haggerty at (360) 671.6400 (102)

Story #6!

Here are some great reasons to be involved with BBBS from our very own Linda Cundiff. For more information on being a BIG visit out webpage, and check it out! There are so many different opportunities for someone to help out with BBBS, you might be surprised!

Many things have impressed me at BBBS. Not being directly involved with program area I only hear snippets of stories:

·      The relationships that continue between the big and little long after the match has ended.

·      The reasons why volunteers become bigs especially the story of one big who appreciated the importance and support of his older brother after his father had passed away.

·      The generosity of our donors.

·      The dedication of our staff.

Letter from a Little

A cute letter from one of our Littles :)

Dear BBBS,

Let me tell

you about my 2 years

as Rex Dudley’s

little brother. He

has encouraged me

to get good grades

in school, took me

places that I wouldn’t

have been able to go

to without him,

and he has got

me to do things

I had never done

before.

                sincerely,

                little brother

P.S I want to be

a big when I grow

up.

Story #5!

Lynn's second story, a great example of how long the relationship between a Big and Little can last.

A mom of a former Little Brother called and said her son’s former Big Brother was going to be visiting soon and she asked if they could come to our office to take a picture of them in front of our big logo sign on the window. They had been matched in another city, but the boy and his mom now live in Bellingham and she had seen our logo while driving by. The boy was turning 18, so the Big Brother was invited to celebrate the birthday with him. They had remained in touch even though they live in separate states now.

The Big Brother had come to town another time to help the Little Brother investigate college opportunities.

So on the day of the birthday, all three of them (mom, Little and Big) came to the office to get some pictures taken. The “Little” Brother was now about 4 inches taller than his “Big” Brother so that in itself made an interesting picture. And then we learned that the Big’s birthday gift to his Little Brother would be to pay for his college expenses! The mom was really excited because a college education probably wouldn’t have been attainable any other way. There were lots of BIG smiles that day to catch on camera.