Creation. Children. Neighbor. --a JUST world for all.  

"Children desperately need to know - and to hear in ways they will understand and remember - that they are loved and valued...." ~Paul Smally

"...I stand for honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need.... That's what I stand for." ~Ellen Degeneres

"Relearning from children the need to question and discover can ignite one's creativity and reveal more possibilities." ~Nabil N. Jamal

Join or Support Team Veritas:

Join me on Team Veritas at the Hollywood Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser as a bowler supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County Maryland. We will be donning our favorite Hollywood attire to celebrate their 34th annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Tinsel Town style (or just wear your regular clothes).

Don’t like bowling or hanging out with others? No problem. You can sponsor Team Veritas through me (pick me! pick me!) to contribute to the cause just click the "Donate Now" button on the right side of this page to make an online donation or if you are a cash only person, give me the cash, and we will fill your information in on the Sponsor Sheet so that you can get credit for your donation for tax purposes.

Team Veritas Resources

Why Michael, Why are you doing this?

Not only is changing lives for the better right up the ally of my church's mission, but it is also my mission in life, and changing the lives of children is a great place to start. Children are our future leaders, but they are our today requiring our present moment in it's entiretly: body, mind, and spirit.

Born to a single mother of sweet 16, I know the struggles a child endures in a single parent home. My father was a Vietnam veteran of 26 years of age when I was born who upon news of conception went his separate way choosing to not be a part of my life. Substance abuse runs back many generations on both sides of my family along with emotional and mental health issues as is the case with substance abuse.

My way of dealing with things as a child was to withdraw. When kids would make comments about Mom drinking, I'd be hurt and withdraw. As a result of withdrawing, the kids would come up with other comments that were just as hurtful, so I'd validate my withdrawal and withdraw some more. Needless to say all of that withdrawing didn't make for a healthy self or a very social self but I did awesome on my school work.

I have spent a large portion of my adult life learning the skills I should have learned as a child and working on resolving the hurts that resulted. This is why healthy mentorship programs in our community are very important. I wish I would had taken advantage of such a program as a child. Luckily I did find a mentor at a local church as a child that definitiely helped out tremendously but selecting a healthy church is just as important or else you could end up having to resolve many issues there too. A church that is inclusive of all people, open and affirming of all people including minorities, genders, and sexualities is crucial. This is why I go to Veritas United Church of Christ now, an open and affirming, just-peace church that welcomes every one without judgment.

Help me support the children of our community by making a donation today!   

What is Bowl for Kids’ Sake:

Bowl For Kids’ Sake is Big Brothers Big Sisters’ signature fundraiser. Each year half a million people across America come together to have fun and raise money to support Big Brothers Big Sisters as we change how children grow up! Bowl For Kids’ Sake is the perfect way for us to make an impact on our community - it only takes a little bit of effort to raise the money that is vital to our program’s success. No bowling expertise is required, scores don’t matter, only the willingness to share in our heartfelt and sincere thanks for helping us transform our community. Gutter ball rollers like me have no need to be intimidated.

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Where Does The Money Go?

All proceeds raised for this event remain locally with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County helping the children of our community. Big Brothers Big Sisters depends on donations to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety; and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships. The role of community members in the effort to help local children cannot be over stated: Our help is needed to raise community awareness of the challenges faced by our local children and to ask for the financial support needed to help change the trajectory of a child’s life.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County:

Serving Littles in the community since 1956, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County, MD, Inc. is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the oldest and largest mentoring organization in the country. This year is a special milestone as BBBS celebrates 60 years of providing ONE-TO-ONE mentoring for children in Washington County! Through these ONE-TO-ONE friendships, BBBS has helped many of our community’s children increase their self-confidence, reach their full potential, and see themselves – often for the first time – as having happy and successful futures.

A Big Brother, Big Sister, or Big Couple becomes a friend, confidant and mentor. The relationship provides the Little with an increased sense of belonging, and often leads to enhanced communication skills and improved performance at home, school and in the community. The Bigs and Littles have fun together and, ultimately, the volunteer benefits too by “giving something back” and truly making a difference in the life of a child. Each carefully screened Big commits to being matched with their Little for a minimum of one year and may remain matched until the Little graduates from high school. Many of the mentoring relationships continue long after their formal closure. Together they share experiences, accomplishments and concerns. A professional caseworker provides supervision and support, and works with the volunteer, child and family to set goals for the match. The agency also sponsors bimonthly group activities for both matched and unmatched Littles. These activities include holiday dinners, an annual pool party, car rally and other activities.

The mentoring programs offered by BBBS are evidence-based and have a significant return on investment. Research has found that Littles served by Big Brothers Big Sisters achieve better educational outcomes, avoid more risky behaviors, and have better relationships with family members than their peers who are not working with a mentor. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy estimates a $4.87 return for every $1 spent on youth mentoring.

• 78% of the Littles improved in the area of Educational Outcomes (grades, attitude, behavior).
• 79% of the Littles improved in the area of Avoidance of Risky Behaviors (avoiding delinquency, substance abuse, and early parenting).
• 85% of the Littles improved in the area of Better Relationships (self-confidence, relationships with family & peers).

Programs at BBBS of Washington County:

Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Big Couples serve as companions, friends and role models to children, primarily from single-parent families. By sharing experiences and providing guidance to the Little, the Big can help him or her see all of life’s possibilities and reach their full potential. Bigs and Littles are matched according to common interests, compatible personalities and who live within a convenient distance from one another. Mentors are asked to make at least a one-year commitment in the program.

• Community-Based Mentoring Program: Bigs and Littles spend 3-5 hours together each week and enjoy many activities in the community. Activities could include walks in the park, backyard barbecues, mountain hikes, and playing video or board games together.
• Sports Buddies Program: Bigs and Littles spend time together 1-2 times per month attending a sporting event or participating in a sporting or physical fitness activity. Bigs build friendships and model good sportsmanship and physical fitness, while providing opportunities for Littles to experience new sporting events and activities. The Sports Buddies Program is for sports and physical fitness enthusiasts. Sports and physical fitness teach life skills, goal setting, character, and sportsmanship. Both men and women can be Sports Buddies.
• Site-Based Mentoring Program: Provides children with a supportive adult relationship, which can help them to succeed. Academics and learning are part of the relationship, but the primary focus is the one-to-one friendship, support and positive role modeling. The program is designed to serve students identified by school personnel as needing extra guidance and support. Littles in the Site-Based Mentoring Program are elementary and middle school students (K-8) who have been identified by a teacher as needing academic support or help with socialization. All children must have written consent from their parent/guardian to participate in the program. Mentors meet with the child at a time convenient to the mentor and acceptable to the classroom teacher. All contact with the child takes place on school grounds, unless it is a group activity sponsored by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County, MD, Inc. As a mentor, you may help the student with their school work (e.g., math facts, reading). You may have lunch with the student and just take time to talk with the child. You could play board games, go to the computer lab or make use of other school space. A professional staff person will talk to you on a bimonthly basis to see how your relationship is developing. The classroom teacher can assist with any specific concerns. As a mentor, you will be covered by the agency’s insurance and have an opportunity to participate in group activities. Mentors meet with a student at Bester Elementary, E. Russell Hicks Middle, Eastern Elementary, Fountaindale Elementary, Lincolnshire Elementary, Maugansville Elementary, Northern Middle, Pangborn Elementary, Ruth Ann Monroe Primary, Salem Avenue Elementary, Springfield Middle or Western Heights Middle once a week for 45-60 minutes during the school day. 

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