Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas

Written by Mark Collins Sunday, 07 October 2007

Mentor program depends on local role models

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a national youth mentoring organization that matches adults with children ages 6-16. Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas successfully matched 1,588 children with a mentor, equaling more than 82,000 hours in donated time.

“It’s the most we’ve ever served in history,” said Vice President of Marketing and Communications Melanie Chasteen. “This year our goal is 1,715.”

That number is not out of reach for one of the 20 largest agencies in the United States. The Central Texas agency serves Travis, Williamson and McLennan counties and recently launched service in Hays and Burnet counties. Chasteen said the Philadelphia-based organization flourishes in the Austin area because of its size and generous citizens.

“Anybody can benefit from a mentor,” Chasteen said. “If you want to be in the program or get identified as somebody who could use a good positive role model, then we will find a match.”

Big Brother Big Sister volunteers are composed of people over the age of 18 who enroll and go through an interview process and pass a background and driving record check.

In addition to the screening process, mentors are questioned about their interests and hobbies so they can be successfully paired with a child.

“The process is focused on matching mutual interests. We talk to the child, the family and the big to make sure that they’ll be able to connect,” Chasteen said.

The organization is always looking for volunteers, especially males.

For members of the community who feel they are unable to volunteer as a big brother or big sister, the agency organizes events to help raise money. Bowl For Kids Sake is one that takes place in February of each year and encourages people to get donations and raise money through a nation-wide bowl-a-thon.

Children who successfully complete a year in the program are awarded a $2,000 scholarship upon graduation from high school, while those who complete six months are awarded $1,000. On top of the scholarship, 10 local colleges, including the University of Texas and Baylor University, will match the endowment.

“It is an amazing program,” Chasteen said. “It isn’t just about their time together. A lot of these kids aren’t thinking about college and all of the sudden they have this money and that might push them to say, ‘Oh hey, I could go to college.’”

Big Brothers Big Sisters is always looking for volunteers and requires a few hours per month. The organization offers two different programs for volunteers to choose from to make it easier to donate time.

School-based program:

• Once a week
• Meet at school
• Stay on school grounds
• Spend lunch hour with the child

Community-based program:

• Several times a month
• Pick child up from his home
• Open-ended activities
• Spend a couple of hours with child

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, 1400 Tillery St., Austin, 512-472-KIDS(5437) • www.bbbscentraltx.org