Big Brothers Big Sisters - 100 Bigs in 100 days By Nick Piazza
Big Brothers Big Sisters just accomplished a very big goal - they matched 100 bigs in 100 days. Actually, they recruited 176 “Bigs” in 100 days, which exceeded their goal tremendously! The kids will now have a positive role model in their life. A Big is an adult who signs up to spend time with a child who may have only one or no parents. Those who sign up to be a Big also take a big step to becoming a mentor in a child’s life. Although Big Brothers Big Sisters completed this amazing goal, the program is still striving to leave no child unmatched. When they first set their goal of acquiring one hundred Bigs in one hundred days, they had great deal of people interested in becoming a Big! Although the focus is on the organization, they really like to spread the praise to the volunteers who become Bigs. Ascentra Credit Union in the Quad Cities has been a big recruiter of volunteers. Big Brothers Big Sisters also has many other sponsors who have assisted them. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been around for over 100 years and has been changing lives in the making. Many people have volunteered their time, effort and money to ensure that each child is cared for. The organization started in 1904 when a courthouse clerk noticed that many boys were coming through his courtroom. He realized that they were misbehaving because they did not have two parents in their life. He then decided to start Big Brothers. At the time there was also a organization called Big Sisters and the two decided to combine and work together to fulfill the same goal in 1977. Since then, Big Brothers Big Sisters has grown and now operates in all 50 states and in 12 countries which include: Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. In 1988, a Big Brothers Big Sisters program started in the Quad Cities in the hope to start the mentoring program in our youth. Today, Big Brothers Big Sisters even reaches out to students by going to Bettendorf and Davenport schools. Big Brothers Big Sisters does a great service for the community by matching kids with an adult who is willing to take on a partial parent/mentor role in the child’s life. Big Brothers Big Sisters thanks and appreciates everyone who volunteers to help the youth of the Quad Cities. So, when you are thinking about helping the community and kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters is a great organization to do that!