Niagara Falls Big Brothers Big Sisters - Mentoring Makes a Difference

Boy or girl, teen or pre-teen, introvert or extrovert, they all have one thing in common: a yearning for companionship.

Someone to look into their eyes, laugh with them, have fun with them.

Someone to look up to. Someone to respect.

And although they might not have the words for it: Someone to make memories "to make magic" with.

Throughout Niagara Falls, about 75 children in lone-parent families are waiting. Waiting, each of them, for that one person to take them under wing and be their special friend.

Other children are waiting for involvement in group programs with adult volunteers.

Mentorship is what it's all about at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, and across the country, September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month.

The need is pressing, the rewards abundant. Big Brothers and Big Sisters who mentor children through the simplest of activities, from sharing pizza to shooting baskets to just hanging out and talking, have a significant impact on their lives.

"I didn't realize how much I really could make a difference," longtime Big Brother John Angell of Niagara Falls says.

Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children from lone-parent families with one-to-one adult mentors. It also runs related programs in order to accommodate the diverse needs of children and provide a variety of options for volunteers.

As the number of lone-parent families rises in Niagara in fact, "it's higher here than in many other parts of Ontario" the call for adult mentors intensifies. But Big Brothers in particular are scarce, and with more than 250 boys on the waiting list, wait times can be lengthy.

On average, boys can wait for a match for a full 12 to 14 months. Some boys wait up to two years.

"Two years is too long," says Jon Braithwaite, Executive Director of Niagara Falls Big Brothers Big Sisters. "These children need mentors. They need role models. We're challenging Niagara residents men in particular, but women too, because girls are also waiting" to take action and call Big Brothers Big Sisters today."

OF CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE MATCHES:

91% feel better about themselves.
90% get along better with other kids.
82% develop better relationships with their teacher.
80% have a better school attendance record.
76% show improved school grades.
67% have a better sense of right and wrong.
65% have improved self-confidence.

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	Boy or girl, teen or pre-teen, introvert or extrovert, they all have one thing in common: a yearning for companionship. Someone to look into their eyes, laugh with them, have fun with them. Someone to look up to. Someone to respect. And although they might not have the words for it: Someone to make memories "to make magic" with. Throughout Niagara Falls, about 75 children in lone-parent families are waiting. Waiting, each of them, for that one person to take them under wing and be their special friend. Other children are waiting for involvement in group programs with adult volunteers. Mentorship is what it's all about at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, and across the country, September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month. The need is pressing, the rewards abundant. Big Brothers and Big Sisters who mentor children through the simplest of activities, from sharing pizza to shooting baskets to just hanging out and talking, have a significant impact on their lives. "I didn't realize how much I really could make a difference," longtime Big Brother John Angell of Niagara Falls says. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children from lone-parent families with one-to-one adult mentors. It also runs related programs in order to accommodate the diverse needs of children and provide a variety of options for volunteers. As the number of lone-parent families rises in Niagara in fact, "it's higher here than in many other parts of Ontario" the call for adult mentors intensifies. But Big Brothers in particular are scarce, and with more than 250 boys on the waiting list, wait times can be lengthy. On average, boys can wait for a match for a full 12 to 14 months. Some boys wait up to two years. "Two years is too long," says Jon Braithwaite, Executive Director of Niagara Falls Big Brothers Big Sisters. "These children need mentors. They need role models. We're challenging Niagara residents men in particular, but women too, because girls are also waiting" to take action and call Big Brothers Big Sisters today." OF CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE MATCHES: 91% feel better about themselves. 90% get along better with other kids. 82% develop better relationships with their teacher. 80% have a better school attendance record. 76% show improved school grades. 67% have a better sense of right and wrong. 65% have improved self-confidence.