It’s graduation season.  I suspect most of you visiting this page know me well – you know that Julia graduated and is looking ahead to college; Eric is taking that big step into high school.  Both of their schools had ceremonies celebrating this right of passage with crowds of parents and relatives watching.  The support and love was evident in so many ways. 

At some basic level we know that the support we provide to kids matters. Well-timed support can make a difference to a child’s sense of his or her potential and ability to stretch and grow. 

Earlier this year I began working with Big Brothers Big Sisters in Cleveland.  I was drawn to the vision of helping youth achieve their full potential.  The organization carefully matches kids (the Littles) with a caring adult (the Bigs) in a 1-1 mentoring relationship.  It builds on that basic understanding that having someone in your corner matters – and the recognition that there are kids in situations where that someone can make an outsize difference.   

I’m not a Big, yet.  But I’ve had the benefit of hearing the stories from Bigs and Littles and they are powerful examples of how a mentor can expand a child’s range of possibilities and provide source of support for that child to develop his or her potential.  These 1-1 relationships lead to better outcomes for the child in the near term and can fundamentally change the future they can imagine and achieve. 

I’d like to ask for your support as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters annual fundraiser, Bocce for Kids Sake.  Your gift makes a difference for a child in Greater Cleveland!

• When we raise $250, it will sponsor a month of initial "Match Support," where BBBS connects with the Big, Little, and their parent to help develop their friendship.
• When we raise $500, it will sponsor the enrollment of a new Big Brother or Big Sister, and help us take a child off the waiting list.
• And for every $1,500 we raise, we sponsor a full year of mentoring for a BBBS kid.

I believe in the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters and it's commitment to nurturing and defending a child's potential. Thank you for helping us clear a pathway to each child's brightest future!