Make a big impact

Help every child fulfull their potential

60 BIGS in 60 DAYS

Our agency has launched an aggressive volunteer recruitment campaign titled “60 Bigs in 60 Days.” Our agency needs quality mentors to guide and support children facing adversity in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties. We hope to make everyone aware that through mentoring, the life of a child can be changed in just 60 minutes a week. Much like the importance of 60 minutes in recreational activities, such as a puzzle room, or even an athletic event, dedicating that same amount of time to a child in-need can provide life-impacting outcomes.

The goal of our campaign is to obtain 60 Big Brother/Big Sister applications in a 60-day timeframe, kicked off our Guest Bartender & Rice-tini night on July 26 at Roboyko Japanese Steakhouse in Greensburg.

Currently, there are 120 local children on the waiting list for mentoring services, and if the campaign is successful, the waiting list could be cut in half! For a few hours, a couple of times a month, a volunteer mentor can give a Little Brother/Little Sister the invaluable gifts of friendship and trust. By simply changing their perspective of what the world can offer, mentors literally start changing lives. And sometimes it’s as simple as solving a puzzle together, playing games/sports, or just hanging out and talking.

CLICK ABOVE TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A "BIG"!!

2017 GOLF FOR KIDS' SAKE

10TH ANNIVERSARY

THANK YOU to everyone who made our 10th Anniversary "Golf For Kids' Sake" event our most profitable event ever!! Our next two "M. Dennis Taylor Continuing Education Awards" winners will be presented at our annual Celebration of Mentoring in November.........

As a tribute to Denny Taylor, former BBBS Board member, who sadly passed away on December 2, 2013 after a valiant four-year battle against lymphoma and leukemia, the M. Dennis Taylor Continuing Education Awards were established in 2014. A portion of the proceeds each year of “Golf For Kids’ Sake” will benefit the awards, given annually to a Big and a Little for post-secondary education support.

Denny began the golf outing to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region in 2008 at Hannastown Golf Club in Greensburg and saw through its rapid expansion and transition to Mystic Rock in 2012. Born in Connellsville, Denny was a graduate of South Union High School and West Virginia University and retired from Allegheny Energy after 36 years of service, holding positions ranging from engineer to director of support services. Denny was an avid sportsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, skiing, and boating and was a member and elder of Maplewood United Presbyterian Church in Greensburg. Denny began his work with BBBS as a Board member in August 2000 and served faithfully and diligently in many roles, including Board President. Denny truly believed in the importance and impact of mentoring and dedicated his unique gifts of time, talent, and resources in working towards making sure that every child who wanted a mentor could have that valuable experience.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our past “Golf For Kids’ Sake” players, sponsors, and guests! To-date, our agency has presented four M. Dennis Taylor Continuing Education Awards to local students. The awards are given annually in the fall at our “Celebration of Mentoring” event.

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WHAT WE ACHIEVE

Imagine how amazing it would be if every child had the opportunity to fulfill his or her individual potential….

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a strong and effective organization that is focused on providing that opportunity. This is good for the child, and it is good for our community. Through proven programs and initiatives, we mentor, nurture, and empower children who are facing adversities and difficulties, to succeed and realize what is possible for each of them. And a stronger child becomes a stronger adult in a stronger community.

We are already doing great work, but we are committed to getting even better by responding more closely to our local communities’ needs.

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To achieve greater impact, the following focus areas were determined to be natural expansions of the seven child outcome categories we currently measure and are being incorporated into our core mentoring programs.....

Literacy

"Building Greater Worlds"

In 2014, The United Way of Westmoreland County released their three-year strategic plan with an educational/community level goal aiming that “88% of students are reading at grade level by the end of third grade in Westmoreland County.”

In response to this growing issue, BBBSLR is adapting existing School-Based Mentoring Programs to provide more literacy-focused mentoring sessions. Although still in its infancy stages of development, the new “READ TO SUCCEED” programs have several clear-cut goals targeted for literacy improvement as Big Brother/Big Sister mentors work together with their Little Brothers/Little Sisters on reading selected, age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate books for at least 20-30 minutes during their weekly mentoring sessions.

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S.T.E.A.M. Education

"Building Solid Foundations"

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S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) represents a paradigm shift from traditional education philosophy, based on standardized test scores, to a modern ideal which focuses on valuing the learning process as much as the results.

BBBSLR is strengthening our Community-Based Mentoring Programs by facilitating S.T.E.A.M. access and experiences to Bigs and Littles through engaging projects and hands-on activities, daring our Littles to attempt something new, make mistakes, try multiple ideas, listen to alternative options, and create a knowledge base that is applicable to real life as opposed to simply an exam.

By building grit and perseverance, creativity and innovation, and collaboration and teamwork – all skills critical to success –projects/activities aim to increase post-graduation and career readiness, ultimately preparing participating Littles to realize the bright futures they deserve.

Self-Actualization

"Building Better Opportunities"

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“Self-actualization” represents a concept derived from Humanistic psychological theory and represents growth of an individual toward fulfillment of the highest needs; the achievement of one's full potential through creativity, independence, spontaneity, and a grasp of the real world.

Based on the process of establishing oneself as a whole person, developing one’s ability, and understanding and accepting one’s true self through the ability to self-assess in a realistic and positive manner, Bigs and Littles in the Community-Based Mentoring Programs will work together in focused learning activities which enable Littles to take full advantage of his or her talents while still being mindful of his or her limitations.

Because self-actualization involves a strong sense of purpose and self-awareness, Littles will consistently be challenged to concentrate on individual strengths, take an independent view on actions, and see situations and challenges more objectively.

Why Mentor?

Be a part of something big

By becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, you can be that special person in the life of a child.
Learn more

Proven Impact

Mentors Make a Difference

Since its inception in 1975, Big Brothers Big Sisters have received many positive reports and testimonials describing how lives have improved through our programs and services.
Having a mentor matters

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