Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington is a one-to-one youth mentoring organization that uses volunteer “Bigs” to spend time with and have a positive impact on the “Littles” or youth that they serve.
“Last year we had over 600 volunteers,” says Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington’s CEO Roger Jones. The organization is on track to have just as many volunteers this year, which means they’re serving more than 600 kids.
And those youths who benefit so greatly from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington all face some type of adversity.
“The majority are from single-parent families,” says Jones. “Sometimes there’s a two-parent family, but maybe not everything’s going great, so they need a little more guidance or someone else in their lives. A lot of the kids we work with are being raised by the grandparents.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington also works with foster kids and children who may have a parent in prison.
About 70 to 80 percent of the kids live on a lower income.
“They’re all referred to us because they’re vulnerable,” Jones continues. “Maybe they’re academically struggling and need someone to encourage them that way.”
Anyone can volunteer to be a Big at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington – once they’ve gone through background and reference checks – and the organization is always in need of more mentors.
“We currently have 55 boys and 15 girls waiting for Bigs,” says Jones. “Some kids wait a year or more because we don’t have enough volunteers.”
Intimidated by the idea of volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister? Don’t be.
“It’s not rocket science,” Jones says with a warm laugh. “It comes pretty naturally. And we match similar interests.”
The Bigs choose the activities they want to do with their Littles “We tell people not to add something brand new to their life,” says Jones. Rather, they encourage volunteers to do the things they already like to do, but to bring their new friend along with them.
“If you like to fish, bike ride, hike, play golf,” Jones says, listing off activities volunteers engage in. “Maybe you want to teach a Little to cook, if that’s your thing. Or sew. Play video games together. Shoot hoops.”
Girls in the program, in particular, tell Jones that the neatest thing they do with their Big Sister is simply sitting down and talking with her – having someone to share their life with and ask questions as they’re growing up and have concerns or things they’d like advice on.
Jones himself is a Big Brother.
“My Little is now 16. I started with him at 9 in our school-based program,” he explains.
Jones went to his Little Brother’s school once a week. “We’d have lunch together and just talk, then go out to the playground.” Jones worked with him because the boy’s father was in prison at that time.
“He couldn’t throw or kick a ball, so we worked on motor skills and once in awhile the teacher would have me work with him academically,” Jones recalls.
Now, seven years later, the duo might grab a Coke at McDonald’s and sit down to talk. “He likes chess, so we’ll often play together,” says Jones. “Usually, he beats me.”
“Once in awhile, we’ll got a movie that he and I would like but my wife wouldn’t dare go to with me,” Jones says, smiling.
“We’ve set some goals for him to stay on track, because he was struggling a lot in junior high,” says Jones. “Now he’s on track to graduate on time.”
Thanks to generous folks who donate tickets, the organization often has opportunity to send the kids to Seattle Mariners games. “Particularly when the Mariners aren’t doing well,” Jones says, with a laugh. “A lot of kids haven’t been out of the area, so to go to Seattle and see the Safeco roof open and shut, or just be in that big stadium, it’s pretty great.”
But generally, Bigs and Littles simply spend time together. “We tell our Bigs not to always pull out their wallet to do something; make going to a restaurant or a movie an exceptional thing, not the norm.”
An Evening In Tuscany
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington is set to put on its “An Evening In Tuscany” 2011 Big Auction, on Saturday, November 5th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Great Wolf Lodge. Ticket are $100 per person and the deadline for purchasing them is Thursday, October 27th.
“It’s a major fundraiser for us,” Jones says. “And we’ve moved it to a black tie optional, because sometimes people like to dress up.”
Some of the wow-factor items include a gourmet dinner and wine tasting at Walla Walla’s Cadaretta Glass House for eight, including accommodations at the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel, a weeklong stay at a Pueblo Bonito resort in Mexico, and more.
“We have experiences throughout the area, and then we have a stay at a villa in Tuscany that will be auctioned off,” says Jones. “Because it is ‘An Evening In Tuscany.’”
Jones explains that they’ve stepped it up a bit, in terms of the high-end auction items, because “we think we have some people with the means to support us in that capacity.”
“Then we have people that just come and donate,” he continues. “They can still say, ‘Hey, I believe in this organization. I might not be able to buy a $1,000 item, but I can donate $500 or $250 or $100,’ or whatever.”
A silent auction will take place as well, with items Jones describes as “on a more reasonable scale.” For instance, Olympia Federal Savings will donate an evening out basket, with dinner and a movie.
“It’s going to be a really nice night,” Jones says of the event.
The auction is one of the organization’s major fundraisers, helping them continue the important work they’ve been doing in Thurston County for 26 years.
Its program is proven to build self-confidence, and Littles are less likely to get involved in drugs, alcohol, and violence. “They tend to do better in school, and just be more successful in life,” says Jones.
And Big Brother Big Sister volunteers also benefit greatly from the organization. “Sometimes our volunteers say, ‘Roger, I feel guilty, because I’m really enjoying this,’” Jones says, smiling.
Jones often sees the few years a Big and Little are matched together develop into a lifetime relationship.
“It’s amazing, just this short little time together on a weekly basis, what a difference it makes.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters
1802 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Suite 102
Olympia WA 98512
360.943.0409
1126 South Gold Street, Suite 228
Centralia WA 98531
360.807.4097
