No Child Without a Mentor
These five words are simple but profound. The Leadership Board exists to connect mentors with children in Delaware County by partnering with mentoring organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Leadership Board is made up of local professionals and students united by the common mission to promote mentoring in our community.
Addressing the Mentor Problem
According to an independent Philadelphia-based national research organization, Little Brothers and Little Sisters reported that after 18 months with their Bigs, compared to children not in the program, were:
- 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- 52% less likely to skip school
- 37% less likely to skip a class
- 33% less likely to hit someone
In 2009, BBBS commissioned industry leader Civic Enterprises to conduct a nationwide survey. The results speak volumes about the ways in which a mentor can change a child’s life for the better, forever:
- Despite the barriers they face, 94% of Littles said they have a lot or some confidence they will achieve their goals.
- 93% of Littles said to have adults who care and look out for them is very important to helping them achieve their goals.
- 80% of Littles said they feel their Bigs help them a lot.
- More importantly, 90% agreed their Big made them feel better about themselves.
In 2011, the Indiana Big Brothers Big Sisters State Association provided more statistics supporting the impact of mentors:
- 77% did better in school because of their ‘Bigs’
- 65% agree that mentoring helped them reach a high level of education
Mentoring matters. It makes a difference. Yet in Muncie there is a shortage of male mentors, and many young boys are still on a waiting list.
This is unacceptable.
We know how fun and rewarding being a Big can be. There should be a waiting list to be a mentor, and we won’t rest until that happens.
Learn how the Leadership Board wiped out the shortage for Big Sisters and become a part of the solution to remove the shortage of Big Brothers.
