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.

National Mentoring Month

January is National Mentoring Month! You can get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters in a variety of different ways. Apply to be a mentor or participate in this year's Bowl for Kids' Sake!

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>>

Some Little Moments

• Asked how long she plans on being a Big Sister to her Little, one of our volunteers responded, “It’s gonna be a lifetime.”
  
• A 9 year-old Little Sister in our program was recently asked what she has learned about her Big Sister by one of our Match Support Specialists. She responded “[My Big Sister] likes to eat ice cream, she likes to walk her dog and she likes taking me places.”

BBBS Represented by Pittsburgh Magazine's 40 Under 40

We are happy to announce that three people related to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh have been selected as members of this year’s 40 under 40 award. The event, sponsored by Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP recognizes “40 people under the age of 40 who are committed to shaping our region and making it a better place for everyone.”

BBBS extends a big congratulations to the selected three:

Mr. Brooks Broadhurst, BBBS board member
Mr. Michael Jennings, BBBS Big Brother and board member
Ms. Kathi Finch, BBBS Big Sister

They can be seen, along with the other recipients, in the November 2007 issue of Pittsburgh Magazine.

Another Match Radio Interview

Big Brother Dan Gigler & Little Brother Jaymes were interviewed on the Saturday Light Brigade Show.

This is part of a series of interviews the show is having with matches from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh (BBBS) over the next six months. Saturday Light Brigade has created a special section on their website that will archive all the BBBS match interviews taking place once per month over the course of the next 6 months (the 4th Satuday of the month from 10:35-10:50 am).

The interviews are made possible through a sponsorship from SUPERCUTS of Pennsylvania.


You can hear a recording of each interview here http://slbradio.org/community.shtml


View pics from the interviews>>

Big Sister Honored by the Mentoring Partnership

A Big Sister in our program, Heidi Semmer, has been selected as this year's recipient of "The Excellence in Mentoring Award" by the Mentoring Partnership. She will be recognized at their Magic of Mentoring event on October 18. Heidi has been matched since 2001 to Little Brother Damon. Heidi’s mother was a Big Sister for several years in the 90's.

Below is an excerpt from the nomination letter submitted by her Match Support Specialist, Kristine Pace:

“Heidi and Damon’s match started out as most do. Enjoying movies, bowling, the zoo, and going out to eat. Heidi has a way to make every outing special and to make Damon feel like the most important kid in the world!

Being matched hasn’t always been easy, but it is through the tough times where a relationship will grow. In 2004, when Damon was just 10 years old, his mother lost her courageous battle with Lupus. Heidi was right by Damon’s side, helping him grieve, cope, and adjust to this new life.

When Damon’s grades began to suffer, Heidi established a daily routine where she would call Damon each day on her way home from work to work on his homework together over the phone. If needed, she would stop by his house to help him with his studies. As you would expect, with this added attention, his grades did improve.

Heidi has always been very creative in the types of outings she and Damon participate in. Damon demonstrated a skill and interest in golf so Heidi enrolled him in the First Tee golf program (through a partnership with BBBS). Heidi also arranged for Damon to participate in basketball camp this past summer. Both are avid readers and the two created a project for the Celebration of Reading Program focusing on the book Ann Frank.

As you can see, Heidi truly represents what the magic of mentoring can accomplish. She has made a difference in our community and most definitely to her little brother Damon.”

Pics from kayak match outing

Check out some new pictures from one of our recent match outing events (in partnership with Venture Outdoors) where our Bigs learned to kayak.