Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters St.Catharines-Thorold & District is the leading youth mentoring organization in Niagara. They have been supporting children and at-risk youth to become happier, healthier, more self-confident and an active citizen of our community since 1937.
More and more parents are looking for in-school and site-based mentorship programs for their children, it comes as no surprise as the results for the children are amazing:
Since our first year doing the #12DaysOfGiving, we have donated a group of tickets to the Niagara IceDogs game to BBBS. It a great way for the big brothers and big sisters to bring their mentees out for a game, and it's a special night right before Christmas!
More and more parents are looking for in-school and site-based mentorship programs for their children, it comes as no surprise as the results for the children are amazing:
- 76% showed improved school grades
- 80% have better school attendance
- 82% have a better relationship with teachers
- 90% get along better with their peers
Mentored youth are also 46% less likely to initiate drug use than children from similar socio-economic backgrounds who were not paired with a mentor. The youth are not the only ones who benefit from such programs, as Canada saves $7,800 in incarceration costs for every youth that is prevented from being charged with drug possession. For every youth that is prevented from being charged with drug trafficking saves Canada $27,820 in incarceration costs. This means that for every 100 youth that are prevented from being incarcerated for 30 days, the justice system saves $1,033,200 - the cost of mentoring youth is just 10% of this number.
Though there are such huge benefits to the programs that BBBS offers, they receive no sustainable government funding. BBBS must raise 90% of their budget to maintain and grow the quality of their programs. They are always accepting of donations, as well as volunteers, especially male volunteers and mentors.
Every year we attend the Niagara Home Builders' Association Christmas party and as an association we donate gifts to BBBS. It is usually at the beginning of December, and it is a great way to get into the holiday spirit!
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| NHBA presenting the donations to BBBS |
Since our first year doing the #12DaysOfGiving, we have donated a group of tickets to the Niagara IceDogs game to BBBS. It a great way for the big brothers and big sisters to bring their mentees out for a game, and it's a special night right before Christmas!
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| Rinaldi Homes welcomes Big Brothers Big Sisters to the IceDogs game |
Thanks Adam Maiolo for providing the facts and trends that BBBS has been seeing over the last year.
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