Big Brothers Big Sisters & Joliet Township High School Announce Cutting-Edge Mentoring Program

JOLIET, Ill., Nov. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties is proud to announce it is introducing mentor2.0 – a technology-driven, email supported one-to-one youth mentoring program that directly focuses on local high school students. Through partnerships with Joliet Township High School District 204, ExxonMobil and Big Brothers Big Sisters, mentor2.0 will launch in fall 2014. 

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The innovative program supports high-impact mentoring relationships, aimed at providing high school students with the support and guidance they need to graduate high school, succeed in college and join the workforce. Big Brothers Big Sisters is offering this alternative to traditional mentoring for local companies that want to do more than only make a donation.

"mentor2.0 is a game changer," says Big Brothers Big Sisters of America CEO, Charles Pierson. "Big Brothers Big Sisters is committed to helping all children achieve success in life and that requires looking at new ways of mentoring that fit the times and lifestyles of our volunteers and the youth we are serving.  This technology based mentoring program, mentor2.0, is digital - a format young people use every day and it provides an opportunity for the busiest professional to be a mentor."

The JTHS Strategic Plan has charged the school district with implementing innovative plans to motivate and engage students through partnerships with mentors who can emphasize the value of education.  JTHS has the framework in place to make the program a success due to the Strategic Plan, which has also led to the implementation of district's one-to-one technology program that will provide all JTHS students with netbook computers by the start of the 2014-2015 school year, allowing 24/7 access to their education.

"With today's access to technology, opportunities are available to our students that were never possible before," said JTHS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl McCarthy. "We are excited to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters and ExxonMobil to provide quality mentors for our students.  Mentor2.0 truly sets the stage for a new culture of innovation that will motivate our students as they connect with mentors that can provide wisdom, support and encouragement on a regular basis."

"This state of the art technology-based mentoring program maintains the fundamentals of safety and quality mentoring Big Brothers Big Sisters is known for, but provides an ideal opportunity for companies and businesses to get involved," said Lisa Morel Las, CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties, "We are proud to have ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery as our first corporate supporter for this initiative. To have an innovative corporate leader at the table that recognizes the value and benefit of mentoring is extremely promising for our future growth in serving even more children through this groundbreaking program."

"mentor 2.0 captures two of ExxonMobil's areas of emphasis for our education outreach – STEM education and substantive relationships with students," explained ExxonMobil Public and Government Affairs Manager Tricia Simpson. "ExxonMobil Partnerships like this are gratifying for the professionals who volunteer because they relate it to the person or opportunity who sparked their own interest in a STEM career."

Big Brothers Big Sisters will begin recruiting participating companies and mentors with the launch of the program in Fall 2014. Big Brothers Big Sisters is offering this alternative to traditional mentoring for local companies that want to do more than only make a donation. To take part in mentor2.0 visit www.bbbswillgrundy.org/mentor2.0 or call 815/723-BBBS.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.  This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 100-year history.  With about 340 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves nearly 630,000 children, volunteers and families. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members.  Learn more at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

About JTHS
Joliet Township High School District 204 is a high school district located in Will County, Illinois. Established in 1899 and founded in 1901, it is one of the area's oldest school districts. Serving a population of over 6,000 students, the district has two campuses—Joliet Central High School and Joliet West High School.  Joliet Township High School is known for its innovative academy structure and strong emphasis on technology.  The JTHS Academies offer rigorous and relevant education focused around the students' individualized career interests.  Academies are infused with 21^st Century technology skills as the district expands its one-to-one computing program, which currently provides netbook computers to all freshmen and sophomore students.  All JTHS will be provided with netbook computers by the start of the 2014-2015 school year.  Learn more at www.jths.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters