Match Featured in Observer Reporter Newspaper

Here is the link to an article featured in Observer-Reporter newspaper about one of our Matches. The match and BBBS are featured as part of National Mentoring Month.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/01_27_Big_Brothers

Match With a Boxful of Memories

The first time Branden met his Big Brother Michael in October 2003, he was a little shy. That wasn’t a problem because as Michael remembers, “We were both a little shy.” The two broke the ice when they grabbed a few board games to play, and Branden beat his Big at the game “Battleship!” The competition, and fun, between them have continued to this day.

Branden is a native of Pittsburgh and Michael of the Philadelphia-area. “We always ‘fight’ when we see the Steelers play the Eagles, the Phillies versus the Pirates, or the Flyers against the Penguins,” says Michael. However, the rivalry among the two ends when it comes to their mutual love of music, R&B Oldies to be exact. Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and the Spinners are some of the classics the pair enjoy.

The two also enjoy making pizza from scratch, laser tag, and visits to Pittsburgh sites. Michael recalls a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo when Branden was climbing the rope-web exhibit. “Branden was acting like he was James Bond. He lost his footing and fell off the net. He was laughing the entire time, and I got it on tape. We still watch it and laugh to this day.”
When asked about what he has learned so far from his Big, Branden replies, “I learned how to take care of a dog.” Michael continues, “He wanted to know how to take care of a dog in case he ever gets one as a pet. I taught him some things with my dog, Sterling. Now Branden has taught her how to jump for treats!”

Michael explains he has also learned something from being a Big. “It helps me to put things in perspective by looking at the world through the eyes of a child. It also has taught me the value of patience.” He goes on to explain, “Sometimes it’s a struggle to get him to call me back. However, I’ve discovered that Branden has a box where he keeps memorabilia from our times together. Just when I think he doesn’t care, he pulls something out from that box and it re-energizes me!” By the sound of it, Branden will have plenty of other things to add to that box throughout the coming years.

This Match Spotlight was originally published in our Big News newsletter.

Match Spotlight

Big Brother Onno and Little Brother Jermaine have been matched for almost a year. Already Onno doesn’t consider being a Big to Jermaine as volunteering. “He has become family,” says Onno. Onno was introduced to Big Brothers Big Sisters when a friend, who volunteered as a Big Brother, would always comment on how much fun he had with his Little Brother. Onno thought about the things he could offer to a child. “I’m a very active person, and I imagined all the outdoor activities I could do with my Little. Even simply throwing around a football,” says Onno.It turns out he was right.

When asked to describe his Big Brother, Jermaine says, “Onno’s fun to play with.” He also helped Jermaine to achieve an important milestone. “He taught me how to swim,” says Jermaine proudly. Having a good bond between the two does not mean they cannot enjoy a little competition. A highlight of their match for Jermaine was when he beat his Big Brother in a football video game. “I was happy,” recalled Jermaine, “and he was laughing!”

Sports are not the only things the two do for fun. “Every week that Jermaine and I chill is pure fun and all positive,” says Onno. Together they frequent the Mattress Factory and the Andy Warhol Museum. This past school year, when Jermaine had trouble in math class, Onno would help him go over his homework. Now Jermaine feels more confident when going to class.According to Onno, being a Big Brother is “different than I expected, but in a very positive way.

Throughout our year together, Jermaine and I have had some truly great times.” When speaking about people who have thought about volunteering as a Big but have not made the move, Onno advises, “You have the chance to have a positive effect on someone’s life for just a few hours a week. Those few hours a week, you’d probably be sitting in front of the TV or some other useless activity. The experience, for both sides, is truly life changing.”

This Match Spotlight was originally published in our Fall 2006 Big News newsletter. The match is still going strong to this day.

Little Sister Proves To Be a True Leader

Big Sister Laureen Quinn informed us that her Little Sister Nicole was recently featured in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about her unfortunate injury while playing in her high-school basketball game.

Laureen states, "The story and the coach's words about her are amazing, despite her injury."

The article shows that Nicole has grown up to become a true leader. We are proud of Nicole and thank Laureen for sharing the article with us.

Read the article>>

Some Little Moments

Pics of our Bigs and Littles from their recent Match Outings

Big Sister Colleen with Little Sister Cherice

Pic from the November Crosby Suite Match Outing
See more pics in our Photo Album>>

Pic from the recent Carnegie Mellon Big for a Day

See more pics of this event in our Photo Album>>

PhD Student at CMU Uses Lego Robots to Help Strengthen Mentor/Child Relationships

Mark Palatucci, a PhD student at CMU, and several colleagues have launched a project designed to encourage and support the exploration of science and technology through hands on robotics experience. 100 Robots for 100 Kids is hoping to raise $25,000 to purchase 100 Lego Mindstorms NXT robot kits and give them to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) mentor/child matches to build together.

In March 2007, six matches officially kicked off the 100 Robots for 100 Kids project by tackling the assembly of the Mindstorms NXT robot.This initial group had the benefit of several CMU robotics students to lend a hand when things got confusing. Pictures from that Match Activity can be seen on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh Photo Album.

Observing the initial participants in the 100 Robots for 100 Kids project, it is clear there is a beneficial partnership between BBBS and the group from the Robotics Institute of CMU. With Bigs often looking for new and different things to do with their Littles, the CMU students are hoping the program will ignite an interest in technology and science.

The matches demonstrated that by following some simple instructions and working through the problem together. They were able to create basic robots that beeped, buzzed and rolled all over the place. Their creations will continue to evolve. Through the use of a computer program which is part of the kit, the Bigs and Littles can build on their initial robot to explore limitless options.

While 23 robots have been purchased and distributed to BBBS matches, the students from CMU are in need of funding to reach their goal of putting 100 robots in the hands of 100 BBBS matches. Although off to a good start, they still have a way to go and we want to help them meet their goal.

Please direct friends, family and coworkers to check out the 100 Robots for 100 Kids blog to see what all the excitement is about!