Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Appalachian Ohio Focuses Forward
ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Appalachian Ohio is a local establishment that strives to make a difference in the lives of area children.
Recently, the organization has been expanding through corporate sponsorships and a $15,000 dollar grant awarded by the J.W. & M.H. Straker foundation that will enhance their youth mentorship programs.
“Our High School Leadership Program is known that… for our Lunch Buddies program. So we have a lot of volunteers that are high schoolers and it’s very impactful when they come in and support and mentor the kids in their school districts. So this High School Leadership program is just better servicing our volunteers to better impact the kids,” Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Appalachian Ohio Vice President of Programs Sawyer James said.
The grant will allow collaboration with Test Pilot Consulting, who partners with other Big Brothers Big Sisters across the nation to customize and refine program curricula that are tailored to best fit the needs of the children in their specific communities.
“This grant is giving us a better opportunity to really service our volunteers,” James said. “You know they’re always talking about how they feel like they’re not impacting kids on a different level. So this really guides them to better impact that. Build their confidence, build their abilities to interact with the kids that they’re servicing throughout the whole school year.”
Not only will the High School Leadership Program volunteers be guided but also local business leaders who are reaching out to teens through the Beyond School Walls program, which promotes workforce mentoring opportunities to area high school students.
