"Jennifer was 12 years old, living in one of Lexington's most impoverished neighborhoods with little hope for a future when she met Laura. A Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass (BBBS), Laura came to be not only a mentor, but a friend to her new "Little." Throughout their time together, Jennifer learned she was cared for and that with hard work, she could better herself. Now a college graduate and small business owner, Jennifer is godmother to Laura's child. "Without Laura and the love and support she has given me through the years, none of this would be possible," said Jennifer.
The relationship between these women began in 1975, and is one of countless success stories that BBBS can boast of in their 50 years in Central Kentucky. Last year, they served 1,061 children in 14 counties. Despite this impressive number, there are currently 402 kids on the waiting list for a mentor of their own. United Way of the Bluegrass and BBBS want to give you a preview of how you can help make this number smaller.
To help address this critical need for mentors in our community, United Way of the Bluegrass is combining two traditional United Way events, the annual campaign kickoff and Day of Caring (series of service projects), in an effort to create an event that has a greater and lasting impact for the community. In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way is inviting donors, corporate partners and community volunteers to participate in "Big for a Day" projects throughout the Bluegrass.
Mentoring increases the long-term success for children, which has far-reaching and lasting impact on the community. Ninety percent of parents with a child in a school mentoring relationship report an improvement in self-confidence. Teachers report a 78 percent improvement in class participation and 67 percent improvement in classroom behavior as a result of these matches. The benefits of being involved in a mentoring relationship are not just for the child. Four out of five mentors (83 percent) say they learned or gained something through the experience of being a mentor, including feeling that they were a better person, increased patience, friendship, a feeling of effectiveness and new skills (such as listening and working with people). Virtually all mentors surveyed could name a positive aspect of their experience.
Big for a Day projects give volunteers a chance to test-drive being a mentor without the long-term commitment. The regional kickoff of this event will take place Saturday, August 25 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Lexington Green. Adults will spend time with a child participating in team-building activities, playing games and getting to know one another to experience firsthand the power of mentoring. The "Bigs" and "Littles" for the morning will receive a brief orientation, time for fun and culminate with lunch provided by United Way. The hope is that participants will see that simply spending a little time hanging out with a child each week can have a lasting impact on their life.
"We have the opportunity to tackle the need for mentors in our community," said Mary Wathen, 2007 Campaign Cabinet Special Event Chair for United Way. "Our goal is to eventually have a waiting list of 'Bigs' who can be a positive influence on any child who needs one."
The August 25 event will give volunteers a chance to see how easy it is to make an impact on this community issue here in the Bluegrass. It will be held in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Family Fun Day and Duck Derby, which takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. In addition, throughout the month of September, each county in United Way's nine-county service area will host a "Big for a Day" event encouraging corporate partners, donors and volunteers to participate in the mentoring experience.
People like you are making a difference in Central Kentucky every day. Whether through organizational partnerships such as United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters or on the personal mentoring relationship that Jennifer and Laura have built, positive change begins with one person taking action. We are asking for one day. The difference starts with you. For more information on how you can get involved with Big for a Day, log on to uwbg.org.
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