What if every child in central Ohio fulfilled his or her potential? Think how amazing that would be! But right here in central Ohio, there are far too many kids who face difficult challenges in their lives. Here's a sobering statistic: more than 26% of the children in Franklin County are living in poverty. These kids -- and those who face other challenges such as having an incarcerated parent -- are some of the most vulnerable in our society.

Many of these kids are on our waiting list right now, just hoping for a Big Brother or Big Sister. Please consider volunteering to mentor a child! Or if you are already matched with a child, please pass our plea on to your friends, family and co-workers. And don't forget that we have volunteer opportunities to fit every lifestyle!

For more information, check our website today!

Inspiration was center stage at the Agency's 2012 Annual Meeting, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house after our three Matches of the Year and Alumni Littles shared their stories! Congratulations to Big Brother John Hawley and Little Brother Jeremey (Community-based Match of the Year), Mentor Sharyn Rigsbee and Mentee Brandy (Dual Match of the Year), and Big Sister Christie Thompson and Little Sister Polly (School-based Match of the Year). A special thank you to Alumni Little Sister Mayra Flores and her former Big Sister Mira Wright plus Alumni Little Brothers David and Robert Sturgill and their former Big Brother John Hawley. Once a Big, always a Big really fits John Hawley, who is currently mentoring Jeremey and was matched with David and Robert in the 1970s! In a very special moment at the meeting, the coveted 2012 Milton Lewin Legacy Award was presented to our friends at Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation Service.   

Over the past several months, there have been a lot of great ways to support the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters in the community! Check out just a few:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, a United Way member agency, has been matching children with mentors since 1933. The third largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the country, we serve thousands of children each year through our community-based mentoring program, school-based mentoring program (including Project Mentor) and mentoring programs at Camp Oty'Okwa in the Hocking Hills. We serve children in Franklin, Delaware, Union, Clark, Madison and Champaign Counties through our offices in Columbus, Delaware, Marysville and Springfield plus Camp Oty'Okwa. In addition, our Mentoring Center of Central Ohio is helping increase the quality and quantity of mentoring throughout Ohio. Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, professionally-supported matches between volunteers and children. We provide ongoing evaluation and support which independent studies prove have positive impacts: helping children perform better in school, avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships with their parents and others. Learn more at bbbscentralohio.org, projectmentorcolumbus.org, campotyokwa.org and mentoringcenterco.org.