Big Sister Shawna Ellis of Wilmington and her Little Sister Kiyara of Malden recently celebrated their one-year anniversary.
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. 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 wishes to congratulate Ellis on making a difference in the life of her Little Sister as a caring, supportive friend and mentor.
Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, the nation’s largest and only donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization in the Big Brothers Big Sisters network exclusively serving girls, holds itself accountable for girls in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Sister carefully pairs girls, or “Little Sisters,” with screened volunteer mentors, or “Big Sisters.” and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course.
The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey, released in 2012, substantiates that our mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Sister Association of Greater Boston provides girls facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of our organization’s 60-plus year history.
Learn how you can positively impact a girl’s life, donate or volunteer at www.BigSister.org.