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Every day, Big Brothers Big Sisters helps young people make good choices - at home, in school, in their communities. In 2008, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest helped more than 1100 children (an eight percent increase over last year) improve their academic performance and prepare for the future.
In addition, of nearly 100 Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates that participate in a national tracking system across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, our office maintained the longest average matches between Big Brothers or Big Sisters and Little Brothers or Little Sisters last year. Matches last, on average, about 21 months. BBBSCM matches reached an average of 38 months this year, more than a 90% increase over the national average. Studies show that children matched longer than two years are significantly less likely to skip school, start using drugs, or engage in violent behavior.
You know the impact that Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring can have on the life of a child. However, we currently have over 75 children on our waitlist, many of whom have been waiting for more than a year.
Now imagine how your schools and your community would improve if every child who came to us could immediately have a Big Brother or a Big Sister! Imagine if we had no waitlist, no reason to tell a child why it's been over a year.
This is the Big Brothers Big Sisters goal that you have supported - to provide a caring adult mentor for every child who needs one. We strive to play a central, transformative role in the lives of more children each year, because we know that the positive effects of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring ripple outward through families, schools and communities everywhere.
But it all begins with supporters like you who understand the value of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring and are committed to building a better future for our community's most vulnerable children.
The success of our work depends on the increased generosity of our committed donors. I hope we can count on your continued support. Please send your end-of-year online gift today or mail your donation to: BBBS, 484 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608.
Thank you and have a happy and safe holiday season.
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