| | | | | | | | April 2021 Happy Spring! April is a very important month here at Big Brothers Big Sisters because it is National Volunteer Month! We are ALWAYS grateful for our Bigs but now is a great time to make sure they know it! National Volunteer Month celebrates volunteerism and the impact volunteers have on our communities and those who need their support most. Our Bigs dedicate 4+ hours each month to their Little. They may not realize the impact they are making by playing games, going on a walk, or helping with homework but they truly are inspiring their Little to be the best version of themselves. If you are interested in volunteering as a Big, learn more here! As a reminder, you can check out our latest program related events here. Scroll to the bottom for a calendar listing or click on the "Match Newsletter" button to view the most recent newsletter sent to our Bigs with activity ideas. We look forward to adding more safe, outdoor activities as the weather gets warmer! Thank you for taking the time to read our April newsletter and for standing with us to defend the potential of over 1,000 children! Sincerely,
The Team at Big Brothers Big Sisters | | | | | | This month, we are excited to introduce you to Cara and Jianna who were just matched about 3 months ago in December. Cara decided she wanted to volunteer as a Big because she really loves the city of Worcester and felt it was a positive organization in the community to be a part of. Cara also loved the idea of building a friendship with a young person and being able to learn from them. Jianna is 10 years old and was really looking forward to having someone to do activities with and talk to. Their favorite activity to do together is taking hikes and nature walks. Cara brings her dog, Lula, along which adds to the fun! They feel they have already accomplished their first goal of really getting to know one another and being comfortable around each other. Jianna is looking forward to finding somewhere to go swimming this summer and Cara is excited to do some indoor activities like visiting a museum or the movies. When asked what they've already learned from each other, Jianna said that she's learned how to kick a soccer ball! Cara said she's learned a lot about Tik-Tok! She's also enjoyed hearing Jianna's stories of The Dominican Republic and what it is like to visit there. We're so happy that this new match is off to a great start and we can't wait to see how their relationship develops even further! | | | | | | GEM (Girls E-Mentoring) As part of our MYSTEAM program, which aims to inspire our youth to engage in STEAM subjects, we saw an opportunity to create a new program specifically for young girls. Launched in April 2021, our GEM program exposes Little Sisters in Middle School to the STEAM field by matching them with a mentor who is a STEAM professional or STEAM college student. As of April 1st we have 8 GEM matches! Matches meet virtually via Microsoft Teams once a week and as a group twice a month! If you are a woman in a STEAM field who is interested in mentoring a young girl, let us know! For more information, please email Courtney Evans. | | | | | |  | This month, the Mazie Mentoring Program welcomed Iracely Sanchez as the new Marlborough Program Manager and Calleigh Leach has transitioned to the Interim Lead Mazie Program Manager. Brandon Portillo remains as the Framingham Program Manager and Bryn Rediger is our AmeriCorps Ambassador of Mentoring. To view the Mazie team and for contact information, visit here. The Mazie team had a wonderful time hosting this year's Goal Awards Ceremony on March 30th, and continues to be impressed and inspired by mentees' accomplishments, celebrations, and the ways matches have stayed connected this past year. Mazie also hosted the first of two Senior Workshop Nights on April 13th, where the team met with senior matches to create personalized vision statements. All matches are invited to attend the second Senior Workshop Night on April 27th, where seniors will be sharing their vision statements and hopes for the future with the group. If you're interested in learning more about the Mazie Mentoring Program, please email mazie@bbbscm.org. | | About the Mazie Mentoring Program The Mazie Mentoring Program matches at-risk high school students in Framingham, Waltham, and Marlborough with dedicated adult mentors for their Sophomore through Senior years of high school. Its objective is to provide young people with the support to help them achieve their goals and succeed. Since its foundation in 1998, the program has served 1,000 students. Created to honor the legacy of John Andrew Mazie, the program is in its 22nd year of operation. Since 2017, the program has been operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest. | | | | | | Golf Fore Kids | June 21, 2021 Golf Fore Kids is a fun-filled day of golf held at Framingham Country Club. This year, will be our 5th Annual Golf Fore Kids Tournament! We look forward to welcoming back our foursomes and seeing some new faces on June 21st! To register or sponsor the event, visit here. For questions, email Lindsay.McCarthy@bbbscm.org. | | | | | | | | Stand With Us Today to Defend Potential When children and teens have the influence of a caring adult, they are more likely to avoid risky behaviors and to focus on academics. Today's youth face a variety of challenges, and being matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister can help them navigate these challenges and reach their potential. | | | | | | | | | | | |
