Saturday, June 11th, 2016
Big Brothers Big Sisters lands $70,000 grant
By William Kincaid
A local organization that aims to spur children's self esteem and chances at success in life by partnering them with positive adult role models received a financial shot in the arm on Friday.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer, Auglaize & Van Wert was awarded a $70,000 grant through the state Community Connectors school mentorship program, the Ohio Department of Education announced.
The grant will allow the nonprofit agency to expand services in all three counties, according to its executive director, Molly Hay.
"This will be a significant boost for us," Hay told the newspaper Friday afternoon.
The agency, which was founded in 1986 and serves over 300 kids annually, operates in St. Henry, Fort Recovery, Celina, St. Marys, Van Wert and Wapakoneta. It will use the financial boon to extend services - afterschool and community programs, lunch club and family events - into at least one new town in each of the counties, Hay said.
"We want to expand into some other schools," Hay say.
That means more supplies and personnel are needed, for which the grant funds will help pay. The agency has three full-time employees and now seeks to take on a part-time employee, chiefly to handle the large amounts of data tracking required by the national organization. The full-time employees then will be freed up to broaden services.
In fiscal year 2015 the agency had a $160,000 budget, a third of which comes from fundraising, a third from donations and corporate offerings and a third from state and federal grants, Hay said.
The program matches children aged 6 to 18 with adults who pass a background check. Many are referred though school counselors or physicians who feel the children would benefit by a positive role model, Hay said.
One hundred and eight community partnerships will share $9.4 million to mentor approximately 40,000 Ohio students through the latest round of grants in the Community Connectors school mentorship program, according to the state.
The program, a news release states, provides $3 for every $1 furnished by local partnerships for activities specifically associated with one-to-one mentoring.
"The best thing we can do as adults is pass our wisdom on to the next generation - and Community Connectors makes that happen," said Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, current executive director for the program and former state superintendent of public instruction. "I've seen the benefits of this program firsthand, and we're making a real difference in the lives of students across the state. They're learning valuable knowledge and skills that will help them be successful at both school and their future careers."
