Nation's Largest Mentoring Network to Roll out the 'Purple Carpet' for National Mentoring Month

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- This January, National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters is inviting the nation to treat its 200,000 "Bigs" as the celebrities they are in the eyes of their "Littles." 

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Throughout the month, Big Brothers Big Sisters families, staff members and friends will show their support with a special Facebook profile picture and social media badge that honors Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors.  The organization is encouraging its celebrity ambassadors and other national and local public figures to give Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors shout outs. It's also encouraging its Bigs to be recognized through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and provide other opportunities to make the organization's Bigs feel special.  Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is making downloadable or direct send "Thank Your Mentor Day" customized e-cards, in English and Spanish, available on national and local Web and social media sites for Littles, their families, staff and board members, alumni, donors and friends to send to Bigs on Jan. 16. www.bbbs.org/mentoringmonth  In addition, some of the organization's local agencies will host "Purple Carpet" (the organization's color) events to celebrate Bigs and Littles.

"Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs our volunteer mentors with children who face adversity and through the course of their mentoring matches continues to provide professional support to the mentors, mentees and families.  Studies find our Littles improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem," said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President & CEO Charles Pierson.  "While our Bigs are ordinary people in regular professions, alumni Littles tell us that to them, their Bigs were and always will be real-life superstars.  That's why this National Mentoring Month, we're doing what we can to make them feel that way."

Anwar Richardson, a former Little Brother, said as a child, he was tough and rebellious.  Richardson said he often resisted advice from his former Big Brother, Derrick Jackson, a sports writer and now an award-winning columnist for The Boston Globe.

Richardson acknowledges how much he admired and looked up to Jackson.  In fact, 30 years later, Richardson is a successful sports writer for Yahoo! NFL.

Youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters live in low-income or single-parent households and have a parent who is incarcerated or parents who serve in the armed forces.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey™ (YOS) data find 94 percent of Littles in community-based Big Brothers Big Sisters matches maintained or improved in their attitudes towards risky behaviors; 88 percent maintained or improved in parental trust; and 83 percent maintained or improved in scholastic competence.

To learn how you can help celebrate Big Brothers Big Sisters "Bigs" during National Mentoring Month, go to www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.

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 nearly 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 www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters