Contributions do make a difference

To the editor:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County would like to express appreciation to the Hillsboro Community Foundation donors and board of directors for the $750 award made to our agency through the Hillsboro Area Impact Fund.

This donation will make a real, lasting, and significant difference in the lives of children in the Hillsboro area who are participants in our Bigs in Schools program.

The children in this program — kindergarten through eighth grade — are referred to our agency by their schools to be matched with carefully screened mentors. The children’s needs may be academic, social, or emotional. Their mentors meet with them once a week at their school to provide tutoring, encouragement, and support.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County is an agency of Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters, part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. However, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County does not receive direct financial support from either agency. Each local agency is charged with raising the funding necessary to support their program.

Awards like the one we received from Hillsboro Community Foundation increase the availability of our program to those children in need of mentoring services. Mentoring makes a difference. Outside research has shown that children in the Bigs in School program have improved academic performance, have better relationships with peers, improved self-confidence, and an improved attitude toward school.

These improvements increase a child’s ability to be successful. We feel when every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential the entire community benefits.

We believe this donation is an investment in the lives of these children and an investment in future of the Hillsboro area. We want to applaud the Hillsboro foundation for their vision of that future, their generosity, and their support.

Jackie Rice
Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County