Editor’s note: The following is a press release.
West Roxbury resident and Big Sister Marisa Proia and her Little Sister Jessica of Hyde Park, recently celebrated their one-year anniversary.
The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston asks for a minimum commitment of 12 months in their Community-Based Mentoring program, though many of our Big and Little Sister relationships last for several years, and even develop into lifelong friendships as the Little Sister becomes an adult.
Big Sister wishes to congratulate Proia on making a difference in the life of her Little Sister as a caring, supportive friend and mentor.
Research has shown that mentoring relationships lasting at least one year, particularly for girls, result in more positive outcomes in a girl’s social-emotional development, academic performance, and ability to make healthy decisions. The success of the relationship is a direct result of the volunteer’s commitment and the professional assessment, training, and support the volunteers receive from the agency’s social work staff.
Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, founded in 1951, is New England’s leading advocate for the healthy development of girls. They are the only mentoring organization in Massachusetts that combines the established, research-based practices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with a gender-specific lens proven to increase positive outcomes for girls. In 2011, Big Sister mobilized 200,000 volunteer hours to mentor 2,956 girls in Boston and inspire them to excellence in school, at home, and in the community. For more information about Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, visit www.bigsister.org