Join Big Brothers Big Sisters as a part of National Mentoring Month
This January will mark the 14th annual National Mentoring Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Kane and Kendall Counties is participating in this campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our community's young people with caring adults.
"There is a powerful mentoring effect demonstrated by research and the experiences of young people who are connected to a mentor," said Eric Dhom, program manager. "Mentoring is linked to improved academic, social and economic prospects for young people, and that ultimately strengthens our community."
Research has shown that, when matched through a quality mentoring program, mentors can play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible decisions, stay focused and engaged in school, and reduce or avoid risky behavior like skipping school, drug use and other negative activities.
For example, in a recent national report called "The Mentoring Effect," young people who were at-risk for not completing high school but who had a mentor were 55 percent more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor.
They were also:
• 81 percent more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities.
• 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
• More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
Right now, Big Brothers Big Sisters has 17 kids waiting for a mentor to change their lives. This National Mentoring Month the slogan is, "Be Someone Who Matters to Someone Who Matters."
Mentoring relationships are basic human connections that let a young person know that they matter, and mentors frequently report back that their relationships make them feel like someone who matters in another person's life. With your help, every child waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister will find one soon.
To learn more about the role mentoring plays in the community and to find volunteer opportunities, visit AuroraBBBS.org or call (630) 844-9090.