Agency will also debut its #ShareYourStory social media campaign to encourage past and present volunteers, donors, and supporters to share their experiences
Allentown, PA — January 6, 2015 — Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley will celebrate National Mentoring Month this January to boost awareness for its one-to-one mentoring programs. The agency has set a goal of serving 380 children through mentoring relationships in its school-based and community-based mentoring programs in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, and hopes the excitement surrounding National Mentoring Month will help it achieve this objective.
Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley is kicking off a social media campaign entitled #ShareYourStory. Through the campaign, the organization is encouraging those are currently or were previously involved with its mentoring programs to share their experiences with Big Brothers Big Sisters. The organization will then promote these stories on its website and social media channels to heighten awareness of National Mentoring Month and its need for upstanding volunteer mentors.
“We’re excited to raise awareness for National Mentoring Month with our new social media campaign this year,” CEO Susan Bartels said. “It’s our hope that folks who join in the #ShareYourStory campaign will become more engaged with our mission, and that their stories will convince others to take action as volunteers or donors. The need for one-to-one mentoring services throughout the Lehigh Valley is extremely pronounced, and the #ShareYourStory campaign will show that being a mentor is not only impactful, but an extremely fun and exciting way to give back to our communities.”
To follow Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley’s #ShareYourStory campaign, visit the agency on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/bbbslv and www.twitter.com/bbbslv. People may share their mentoring stories with Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley directly by contacting the agency through its social media pages or emailing Alex Dapkewicz, Marketing & Development Manager, at adapkewicz@bbbslv.org.
Those interested in volunteering their time as Big Brothers or Big Sisters can learn more and sign up at www.bbbslv.org/volunteer.
Contact:
Alex Dapkewicz, Marketing & Development Manager
About Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley
For over 40 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with qualified, trained, and screened volunteers (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey Report reinforces the mentoring program’s evidence base of positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 100-year history. The organization is engaged in a nationwide search to reunite with alumni mentors, mentees, donors, and family, staff and board members. Learn how you can volunteer or donate—visit www.bbbslv.org.
