Big Brothers Big Sisters is profoundly grateful to the Polk County Community Foundation, their contributing members, staff and volunteers for their continued support. A substantial grant from the unrestricted funds will support the BBBS mentoring programs for youth in Polk County and Landrum in their new fiscal year.

The Polk County Community Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life locally and they have steadily advanced this vision by applying the charitable donations they receive to benefit our community through grants and scholarships.  The foundation also manages other funds and trusts, including an endowment fund for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The Polk County Community Foundation’s unwavering support for Big Brothers Big Sisters validates the mission of the organization to enhance the development of children facing adversity through the friendship and guidance of mentors. With the help of a network of volunteers, donors, sponsors, family members, teachers and other advocates, BBBS carefully matches youth, most from single-parent families, with caring adult role models. By helping children develop supportive relationships with positive role models, BBBS makes a direct and lasting impact on their lives.

Research proves that children enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Guiding children to identify their “sparks” and develop those interests helps them realize their potential so that they achieve higher aspirations and greater confidence, empowering them to succeed.

In the school-based program, mentors are paired for one-hour per week with children who need a little extra attention at school. During these sessions they may do school work or homework, play games, or read together.

In the community-based program, volunteer “Bigs” spend time with their “Littles” at least twice a month for activities such as going to movies, attending sports event, going hiking, cooking together, or just hanging out. But what matters most to the Little is often the fact that they have a caring adult in their lives, someone to confide in and to look up to at a time in life when even small choices can change the course of one’s future.

These critical relationships connect youth to more social and economic opportunities, giving them new perspectives. Through their successes, the mentoring effect has the potential to strengthen families, schools and communities.

At-risk young adults who had a mentor are then more likely to hold a leadership position, enroll in college, volunteer in their communities, and be interested in becoming a mentor themselves.

Creating a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters benefits our communities’ most important asset – our children. The strong financial commitment that the Polk County Community Foundation has made to Big Brothers Big Sisters enhances and strengthens the organization’s ability to make a difference in the lives of more young people that, in turn, contributes to the well-being of our community, because to them “community matters.”

To learn more about the Polk County Community Foundation, and all the good they do, call 828-859-5314 or visit polkccf.org. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, contact them at 828-859-9230 or polk@bbbswnc.org.

– article submitted by Karen Dacey