2009-08-17T07:20:00.001-07:00

A Mother’s Story –“How Mentoring Worked For Her Son”

At a recent Big Brothers Big Sisters luncheon, Mary described the emotional dilemma she experienced after her husband died. “I found myself trying to be a mom and a dad after my husband’s death. As hard as I tried, I just couldn’t do it all. A friend finally told me the best advice I’d heard. “You’re a mom… just be a mom!” That was good advice, but my son Brent was angry after his dad died and was having a lot of problems. He got kicked out of school six or seven times, kept getting in trouble and ended up in Intermountain Children’s Home. I just knew he was headed for prison and I didn’t know where to turn.”

“Another friend suggested I get in touch with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Brent got a Big Brother named Cory just under two years ago and it’s made a huge difference. They started hanging out together, Cory took Brent hunting, and took him places and they became best friends. The results have been amazing. Brent is now a sophomore in High School, is on the honor roll, and plays on the varsity football team. Cory has become part of our family and I credit the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for helping my son and our family have hope again.”

Last year 322 children like Brent were mentored in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Helena and stories like this are happening every day in the lives of some of our most vulnerable children in Helena. You can help provide a child with a mentor by being a Dream Maker Partner. We invite you to join us as together we can change children's lives!

Watch this story from a 95 year old Big Brother and his Little.
We're mentoring 400 at risk children and they're very similar to the young man in the video below. These type of stories come through our office all the time! Watch this video!

Most of the kidos in our program are just like David was. They are good kids, from single parent homes, in danger of dropping out of school, and on the verge of engaging in risky behavior that will cost them, and the community, not only financially, but emotionally as well. The cost to tax payers nationally at the present drop out rate is $325 BILLION dollars ($26 billion per year) according to the Alliance For Excellent Education. It's expected to grow to $3 TRILLION in the next decade unless the tide can be turned.

We do a thorough criminal background check, driving record check and reference checks on all our mentors to insure child safety. Our case managers then to a profile on the volunteer and child and MATCH that relationshp and professionally support that relationship as it develops over time. There are monthly calls and case notes kept on every Match and a written plan is developed for the child based on his or her needs. We then measure 21 behavior and character indicators from written data we gather from the parent, teacher and Big, and our statistics clearly demontrate the amazing impace we have on these children. They are:

46% Less likely than peers to begin using drugs
27% less likely to use alcohol.
33% less likely to have violent controntations
55% less likely to skip school

Of the children in our program in Helena:

76% improve in Class behavior and participation
80% improve in their attitude toward school
83% improve in academic performance

Parents tell us that 60% of the kids improve in their trust in adults and 81% improve in their self confidence which in turn gives the moral character to make good decisions and avoid risky behavior.

In 2008, two non renewable grants expired totalling $90,000 per year, which adversely affects our ability to provide case managers for more children. So we are asking 120 people or businesses to partner with us and sponsor just ONE child for $1,000 per year, or $84 per month. Just ONE! Or if you can help with $10, $25, or $50, you'll be changing a child's life. Hit the donate button below or call our office today and be a Dream Maker in a child's life by helping provide a mentor.

HERE'S WHAT MENTORING IN HELENA PRODUCES! WATCH THIS VIDEO!

If you'd like to help us, please donate. We receive no funding from BBBS America, so the funds we receive must be raised locally and stays in Helena. You may not be able to be mentor yourself, but you can help provide a mentor and change a child's life by being a Dream Maker Partner.

MENTORING MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR OVER 100 YEARS!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena