SIDNEY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County recently received a grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation to address the mentoring needs of youth through its after-school Big Buddies program.
“This grant will enable Big Brothers Big Sisters to continue offering our much-needed Big Buddies mentoring program to children facing adversity in our community. With the current pandemic and the isolation some of the children feel, our programs are needed now more than ever,” Executive Director Jennifer Bruns said.
Big Buddies is a nine-month commitment in which high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors volunteer two times per month to mentor elementary students. During these meetings, high school students, under the supervision of Big Brothers Big Sisters staff, work with one or two children on educational and recreational activities. For the 2020-21 school year, the agency is utilizing SEL Social Emotional Learning curriculum.
“CenterPoint Energy Foundation is proud to once again support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County and their after-school mentoring programs,” CenterPoint Energy Foundation Manager Amanda Schmitt said. “We want to see all students succeed both in school and in life, and mentoring programs are a key component of success for at-risk students.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County was founded in 1977 to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Its vision is for all youth to achieve their full potential.
For more information regarding services provided, volunteer openings or sponsorship opportunities, call 937-492-7611, 937-547-9622 or visit www.bigbrobigsis-shelbydarke.org for more information.
