Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona is in desperate need of volunteers after launching its new group mentorship program with a grant from the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation.

The purpose of the BBBSAZ Mentoring Program is to create and support mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. 

The collaborative program will match volunteer mentors (Bigs) to children in need of a positive role model (Littles). The Bigs will meet regularly with a small group of Littles on-site at Boys & Girls Club where Bigs will provide homework assistance, friendship, and model positive behavior. 

“We are so excited to be partnering with the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley at the Colangelo Branch,” said Laura Capello, President and CEO of BBBSAZ. 

“While the majority of our mentoring relationships have been one-to-one matches, we are finding that group mentoring is making a big impact in the areas where we have lots of young people waiting, and not enough mentors to serve them. Kids just want someone to talk to and support them, and this absolutely meets that need. We want to meet kids where they are and this is helping us do that.”

Youth who grow up in disadvantaged communities face numerous challenges that their peers with more resources do not. Some of the youth served by BBBSAZ and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley face multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), with home lives that can be unsafe or unstable. 

Without additional support and proper intervention, these youth are more likely to grow up and find themselves struggling with education or involved with crime or drug use. Having a caring adult role model is a key protective factor in helping youth build resiliency. 

Using a group mentorship model, volunteers will be able to serve multiple youth each time they meet. 

Volunteer mentors are needed on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month from 4:00- 5:00 pm at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Colangelo Branch in Phoenix.  A one-year commitment is required. For more information on taking the first step in the enrollment process please visit: www.bbbsaz.org/volunteer