For half a century, boys in the Kalamazoo area without fathers have had a way to find father figures to turn to. And, for the last 32 years, local girls in need of women to help and guide them, have found those friends and mentors through the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
Since then, thousands of pairs of ``Bigs'' and ``Littles'' have met and shared their lives. The impact on the children is often profound: Boys and girls without parental guidance or support found caring adults to take them into their lives and help them stay in school, find wholesome entertainment and help them grow into productive adults. But the impact on the adults also is important. As they invite children into their lives to mentor and care about, Bigs have reported that their own lives became richer as well.
In 1958, Theral Thomas Herrick, director of curriculum development at Kalamazoo Public Schools, noticed an increasing number of boys dropping out of school, especially those without fathers. He called on the Jaycees to help. Thus was born a local chapter of Big Brothers. In 1976, girls were added and the chapter name was changed to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kalamazoo. The mission of the organization fits in perfectly with what this community is trying to accomplish with at-risk youth.
The Kalamazoo Promise, the gift of anonymous donors that pays the college tuition of Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates, is a tremendous opportunity to KPS students.
But many students from low-income homes, where some parents may have low levels of academic attainment, are ill-equipped to take advantage of The Promise. While KPS is working hard to assist at-risk students and make them college-ready, some are still dropping out, some are discipline problems in school, some are involved in gang violence in the neighborhoods.
Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters are needed more than ever to match responsible, successful, caring men and women with the boys and girls who need their guidance, encouragement and friendship.
More than 1,300 pairs of Bigs and Littles are now in the program. The chapter's goal is to be serving 2,010 kids by 2010. That's a challenge that will require the organization to actively recruit children as well as adult mentors. But we're certain that there are more than enough children out there who could use this program. The challenge is in finding enough adults to pair with them.
Congratulations to Big Brothers Big Sisters for 50 years of service to the children of the Kalamazoo area. The organization has certainly made a difference. We hope that they'll be around for another 50 years. We're pretty sure they'll be needed at least as much as they are today.
Editorial
20 April 2008
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