A monumental change in someone’s life is often grounded in the simplest gestures. A friendly face, someone to share a laugh with and a person to listen can have such a large impact on a life. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph this principle becomes a mission. Committed to igniting change in the lives of our local youth, this non-profit organization is dedicated to propelling the futures of our youth and help them realize their true potential.
Big Brothers Big Sisters was founded in 1904 in New York by Ernest Coulter. St. Joseph started their branch of the organization in 2008 and has been impacting lives ever since. Within the program, volunteers called “Bigs” are paired with children called “Littles” in a one-to-one match that encourages mentorship and true friendship. Beginning at age five through young adulthood, youth are matched with adult volunteers and positive relationships are fostered. These children often need someone to look up to and call a friend, someone to have in their corner and to teach them about life. That’s what Big Brothers Big Sisters is all about.
Many of these youth do not receive the guidance or support they need from the adults in their lives, so pairing them with trusted volunteers that are willing to invest in their lives is an absolute game-changer for the “Littles”. Allowing these youth to achieve their full potential with the help of a trusted adult has been the vision of Big Brothers Big Sisters for over 100 years and continues to be a large part of our community.
SJC Marketing is a big believer in what this organization stands for and provides donations each year as well as the investment of time as one of our account managers, Jordan Shadwick, who serves on their board. Our team also recently recognized Cheyenne Dorrell Giles, the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters St. Joseph for the impact she is making in our community.
The belief that each and every child has unrecognized potential is a core part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters cause. What these youth need is a mentor who truly believes in them to help them unlock it. Teaching them how to cultivate better relationships, aim high in their careers, avoid risky behaviors and value their education has proven beneficial for thousands of program members. True change comes from action, and it takes selfless and caring individuals to provide it. So, if you’re interested in donating or becoming a “Big” visit their website to get involved. You may completely alter the trajectory of someone’s life.