Big Brothers Big Sisters Rolling Out 'Purple Carpet' for Mentors

This January, our country will celebrate the 13th annual National Mentoring Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties is inviting the community to treat their “Bigs” as the celebrities they are in the eyes of their “Littles.” 

The agency that has matched at-risk children from Will, Grundy, Kankakee and Iroquois Counties with a volunteer mentor since 1970, will roll out the “Purple Carpet” to provide royal treatment to their volunteer mentors. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ board members, employees, families and local community leaders will gather for a star-studded celebration on Thank Your Mentor Day – January 16 – at their Joliet office headquarters.  All community members are invited to celebrate the superstars that are our Big Brothers and Big Sisters. 

Additionally, Grundy County Board Member David Welter will be introduced as the 2014 Big Brother of the Year, and University of Illinois Medical Center registered nurse Kathleen Sliter will be introduced as the 2014 Big Sister of the Year.

Also, throughout the month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties will:

• Encourage friends, families, staff members and friends to show their support with a special Facebook/Twitter purple Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Month profile picture and social media badge that honors Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentors. 
• Encourage its celebrity ambassadors of local civic and government leaders to give Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors social media “shout outs.”
• Make their volunteer Bigs feel special by recognizing them through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posts.  

“Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs our volunteer mentors with children who face adversity, and through the course of their mentoring match, continues to provide professional support to the mentors, mentees and families.  Studies find our Littles improve in school, their behavior and their self-esteem,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO Lisa Morel Las

“While our Bigs are ordinary people in regular professions, alumni Littles tell us that to them, their Bigs were and always be real-life superstars.  That’s why this National Mentoring Month, we’re doing what we can to make them feel that way.”

Youth served by Big Brothers Big Sisters typically live in low-income or single-parent households and have a parent who is incarcerated or parents who serve in the armed forces.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey™ (YOS) data find 94 percent of Littles in community-based Big Brothers Big Sisters matches maintained or improved in their attitudes towards risky behaviors; 88 percent maintained or improved in parental trust; and 83 percent maintained or improved in scholastic competence.

To learn how you can help becoming involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters, go to www.bbbswillgrundy.org.