When a Mentee speaks from the heart, we all slow down and take the time to listen. This is what eloquent tenth-grader Alex, who has been meeting with his Mentor once a week at school as part of our Project Mentor program, wrote at the end of this school year:

"I appreciate all the support and positive thought towards me being myself. You helped me see things out of situations that I probably wouldn't have seen before. You contributed to my positive attitudes and allowed me to open up more to everyone I meet and also showed me that not everything should be focused on the negative side of things. You helped me gain my new-found hobby of instrumental music. I thank you for this and hope to see you next year. If not, I hope that you influence someone else's life the same way you influenced mine." 

So what do you think? Is Alex's Mentor planning to continue? Yes, he is...and something tells us 2014-2015 will be an amazing school year for this match!

Out of the mouths of kids in our program....When she spoke at our Annual Meeting last fall, our spotlighted Little Sister made it clear why it is so important to involve our entire community in our work. Please take 30 seconds of your time to view what she had to say.

 To accomplish our mission, it takes the involvement of our entire community, including individuals, community groups, companies, and faith-based and municipal organizations.

At this time of year, in the midst of celebrating graduations and the end of the school year, our Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members are already deep into recruiting Mentors for 2014-2015. In fact,  Sharyn Rigsbee, our Assistant Vice President of Community Outreach and Volunteer Recruitment, is just a blur in our office because she is out and about visiting potential partner organizations, networking with individuals, attending community events, etc. 

We hope you are ready to volunteer individually or get your organization or company involved. For more information, please visit our website or call us at 614-839-2447.

2014 Earth Jam: It was a professional runway show full of avant-garde fashion and an opportunity to support the environmental education programs at our Camp Oty'Okwa, all wrapped up in one amazing evening on May 20! The 10th Anniversary Earth Jam, showcasing  the talent of Aveda Institute Columbus students, was presented by Fifth Third Bank.

Thanks to Aveda Institute Columbus and Nurtur the Salon for partnering with us, and Fifth Third Bank for presenting this special event. Thanks, too, to DSW for sponsoring 2014 Earth Jam, and all of the rest of the sponsors, donors and attendees who made it possible!

What an opportunity to Look Good, Feel Good and Do Good!

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The Coca-Cola Company: Thanks to our friends from The Coca-Cola Company for their very generous donation of $25,000 to support our life-changing programs at Camp Oty'Okwa!

Pictured from left are Jennifer Richmond, Region Communications Director, Coca-Cola; Tim McCarthy, Vice President of Relationships, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Neil Hardesty, Distribution Center Manager, Coca-Cola; Ed Cohn, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Dave Schirner, Executive Vice President, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, a United Way member agency, has been matching children with mentors since 1933. One of the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies 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, Champaign, Ross, Pike, Pickaway, Fayette and Highland counties through our offices in Columbus, Delaware, Marysville, Springfield and Chillicothe 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, amachiohio.org and mentoringcenterco.org.