Big Buddy Vision:
That every child has a positive role model leading him/her to make good choices resulting in a healthy and rewarding life.
Big Buddy Mission:
To provide access to positive role models and learning experiences to children who lack these resources.
Big Buddy Program Description:
Big Buddies and Little Buddies enjoy spending time together doing special projects, completing homework assignments, reading books, and developing a friendship through other fun activities. Through the creation of mentoring programs that allow for different levels of commitment, flexibility in activities, additional agency support, and the implementation of the Day of the Mentor event, the number of mentoring relationships has been on the incline. In addition, the established relationships are well rooted and are likely to continue past the original commitment period.
Big Buddy Provides:
- Ongoing training for Big Buddies
- Transportation for Little Buddies
- Hosting Match Ceremonies
- Supervised contact
- Recruitment and Screening of Little Buddies
- Conducting weekly Little Buddy Club Meetings
Big Buddy Mentor Commitment:
Volunteers that sign up for this awesome task will make a commitment to provide consistent interaction with their Little Buddies, so that a strong relationship will form and last. The interaction will be under the direct supervision of a trained Mentor Coordinator from the Big Buddy Program.
Big Buddies are asked to commit to:
- Attend 1 Little Buddy Club meeting per month. Each participating school has a club meeting at least once per week. During club time, Big Buddies and Little Buddies will participate in activities that assist in strengthening the mentoring match. In addition, we will conduct workshops that support the Little Buddies in the accomplishment of their personal goals.
- Attend 1 Weekend Activity per month. A schedule of weekend activities will be provided at the match ceremony. Generally, an activity is designated to each month. Individual schools are then assigned to a particular Saturday or Sunday activity time. If a scheduling conflict arises, we can then work with them on a case-to-case basis.
- Write 1 Letter per month. The contents of the letter should be encouraging words for the week, a recap of the weekend activity, career information, etc. The Big Buddy Program will serve as the delivery system.
- Attend the Match Ceremony, Ending or Recommitment Ceremony, and additional training workshops if applicable.