Agency News

February 2021

Hello BBBSCM Friends and Supporters,

We're sure by now you are getting excited for the warmer months ahead and so are we! This winter, we have seen our Bigs really show their dedication and get creative when planning activities with their Little. Whether that means playing new games on Zoom or spending time outdoors, we're so grateful for our wonderful Bigs! 

Before February comes to a close, it is important that we acknowledge that it is Black History Month. Our agency is committed to being one that embraces diversity. BBBSCM is proud to be a part of the stories of mentorship, change, and impact from our Black Bigs, Littles, and Parents. Throughout the month, we have been highlighting influential Black youth in our Nation on our social media channels. We hope you have enjoyed learning about these amazing young people. If you haven't seen these posts, click on the social media icons at the bottom of this email.

We'd also like to remind you of our new partnership with the Hartsprings Foundation. The Hartsprings Foundation collects used, unwanted clothing on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters. The donations are purchased by Savers and the proceeds benefit our programs. If you are interested in learning more about our partnership, please visit www.bbbscm.org/give. If you would like to schedule a pick-up, please call Hartsprings directly at (413) 732-7111.

Thank you for taking the time to read our February newsletter and for standing with us to defend the potential of over 1,000 children! 

Stay warm!
The Team at Big Brothers Big Sisters

Match Spotlight

We're excited to introduce you to one of our great matches, Pat and Justin! You may recognize Pat from our Big Night In virtual event this past October. He wrote and performed his song, Ignite Potential, for the event which you can watch below. Pat and Justin were first matched in 2008 when Justin was 12 years old. He's now 24 and still connected with Pat! We have a feeling they'll be friends for years to come.

Program Highlight

This month, we are excited to highlight our Community Mentoring Program! The Community Mentoring Program matches at-risk children with volunteer mentors from the community. Matches are able to plan their own activities together and meet 3 or 4 times a month. When we asked a Big about their experience, they said, "Everyone's experience is different, but what you will find in being paired with a Little is one of the most unique and wonderful relationships you'll ever have. You do this simply by being there for them and listening. It's so simple yet so powerful."

In order to continue to provide as much support to our dedicated Bigs as we can, we are now offering a virtual Match Activities series every other Thursday from 5:00pm-6:00pm. We plan to host a variety of activities that matches can choose to attend if it interests them. We're excited to be able to give our matches an opportunity to connect, especially since their options are limited due to the social distancing guidelines and winter months.

Our next virtual Community Match Activities are scheduled for Thursday, February 18th and Thursday, March 4th. February 18th will be focused on celebrating Black History Month. Matches will be learning about inspiring Black youth. The March 4th event will be themed around community service. To register for these events, click on the button below and then scroll down to the calendar to search for events.

Mazie Mentoring Program

This month, the Mazie Mentoring Program hosted a Mentor Only Night event. Wonderful discussions were had about growing the Mazie Mentoring Program in our three towns of Marlborough, Framingham and Waltham. On February 16th, the Mazie team kicked off their College Readiness Series to prepare students for college. Guest speakers who specialize in admissions, FAFSA and the college process provided helpful information. It was a wonderful turnout!

If you're interested in learning more about the Mazie Mentoring Program, please email mazie@bbbscm.org.

About the Mazie Mentoring Program

The Mazie Mentoring Program matches at-risk high school students in Framingham, Waltham, and Marlborough with dedicated adult mentors for their Sophomore through Senior years of high school. Its objective is to provide young people with the support to help them achieve their goals and succeed. Since its foundation in 1998, the program has served 1,000 students. Created to honor the legacy of John Andrew Mazie, the program is in its 22nd year of operation. Since 2017, the program has been operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest.