What Does It Take to Be a Big Brother or Sister?

By Chris Valdez 













Did You Know … 


Research conducted by Big Brothers Big Sisters has found that, compared to their peers, children benefiting from a Big Brother or Big Sister are:



• 46 percent less likely to start using illegal drugs and 27 percent less likely to start drinking.



• 52 percent less likely to skip a day of school and 37 percent less likely to skip class.



• More trusting of their parents and guardians and less likely to lie to them. They also feel more supported and less criticized by their peers and friends.
• Almost 1/3 less likely to resort to violence as a means of solving problems
Looking for a Few Good ‘Big’s
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America is the largest and (now completing its 100th year) oldest organization of its kind. Currently, more than 220,000 children ranging from age 5 through 18 are part of its national mentoring program, which matches kids from single-parent households with adults from the community who are able to spend some quality time with them. But there are still thousands of kids – "Littles" - who remain unmatched – waiting for a volunteer to become their "Big."



So why have volunteers for these great kids become so scarce? 



Myth 1: Children Who Need “Bigs” are Big Trouble. 
				

			
 



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