Big Brothers Big Sisters 

      Introduced by Bruce Finlayson this 5-County organization is dedicated and committed to the development of at-risk young people thru mentoring and personal guidance. 

 

      For 60 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan has been bringing smiles to the faces of children by matching them with adult volunteers in fun and rewarding mentoring relationships.  The impact it has on children in the program is priceless, and the heartwarming stories collected from Big and Littles over the years are endless.

      Mentoring is a powerful thing.  It’s fun, most anyone can be a mentor and it’s life-changing.

Children at risk are typically the result of broken marriages, single moms, poverty, step-parent relationships, etc.  The need for mentor volunteers is great.  In 2016 the Grand Traverse Region chapter identified 3,500 children-in-need.  They served over 400 children thru two umbrella programs: (1) Community based & (2) School based with 500 volunteers.  Over 1300 businesses, organizations, and contributors supported this effort.  Rotary Charities is a significant supporter.

      Cecilia also introduced Director of Big B&S, Tony Anderson (General Manager-Cherryland Electric Cooperative) who is also a very dedicated mentoring volunteer.  He shared a heartwarming experience about a young boy in need of simple fatherly advice and companionship.  Fathers, of course, know everything! While playing with the boy at the swing-set, after a rain, Tony showed the boy how to flip the seat over to the dry –side.  The kid was impressed. Using this and other fatherly knowledge, the boy became very popular with his peers.  Tony asked him about his new-found popularity; the answer: It was because of You!

      All Rotarians (men & woman) are encouraged to consider the possibility of becoming a Mentor and gain the reward of helping a needy child become a successful adult.