Big Brothers Big Sisters Expands Military Mentoring Program
Children with a parent in the military, including a deployed parent, face unique challenges that may include separation and loss in addition to the stresses of military life. To help provide the additional support these children need, Big Brothers Big Sisters has established a program called the Military Mentoring Program. It joins children of parents in the military with Bigs who are in the military, ROTC or military school.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida received $122,500 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to expand Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Military Mentoring Program. More than 1,000 new mentoring matches will be created in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Military Mentoring Program with this additional funding, including 70 in Northeast Florida.
The program supports children in military families and engages active duty, reserve or retired military personnel as volunteer mentors known as “Bigs.” A Big is not a replacement for a parent deployed or away from home. Instead, a Big gives a child structured friendship with a caring adult and a safe, supportive way to spend time and have fun.
If you believe your child would benefit from having a Big Brother or Big Sister, please contact Marilyn Hill at (904) 727-9797 ext. 237.
If you think this is your opportunity to give back to your community and become a Big to a military child contact Marilyn Hill at (904) 727-9797 ext. 237.
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, visit www.bbbsnefl.org.
Warren Grymes joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida (BBBSNEFL) in January 2004 as Chief Executive Officer. During his time with the organization, the agency has expanded into Baker, Clay, Flagler, Nassau and Putnam counties and growth in matches and revenues has doubled in the last 2 years. In 2007, BBBSNEFL was recognized as one of the top 30 performing agencies of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, which has over 450 affiliate members.
