Match Spotlight: Adrianna & Maggie

When asked how she would describe her Big Sister, Adrianna says that Maggie is a lifelong friend. Having been together since 2006, they began their match in the School Based Program and switched to Community Based in 2011. Maggie has been watching Adrianna grow up to be a very special young woman. On the heels of her senior year, Maggie has been a major support to Adrianna as she prepares for college and the rest of her life. Together, they have started to talk about college choices, scholarship applications, and ACT preparations.

Adrianna’s mom, Michelle, lets Staff know that she is just amazed by how long they have stayed together. Michelle is grateful to Maggie for being such a positive friend for Adrianna, in addition to showing her how to find success in her life. Adrianna describes Maggie as a tremendous companion and a great role model.

In talking with Staff about her match, Adrianna talks about how Maggie goes above and beyond to help her give to others. Adrianna said that they love to bake goodies for others and shares that Maggie recently made cupcakes for her entire soccer team. Adrianna knows that Maggie is someone that will be in her life for a long time and is grateful to know that she has such a wonderful support in her life.

Adrianna and Maggie continue to come to activities sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters, which has allowed the staff to watch her grow up as well. Adrianna is due to complete high school next year, at which point her match will graduate as well. Adrianna is pleased to know that even as she becomes an adult, she has Maggie to turn to for advice, for someone to laugh with, or to share her latest achievement with!  

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa to Receive Prestigious National Award

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa is pleased to announce that they have been identified by the National Leadership Council of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as a 2013 Quality Award Winner.

The Agency was selected based on certain criterion, including high retention rates of local "matches" and exceptional service through program administration.  This is the first time that the local agency has been selected to receive this great honor.

"We strive to not only match at risk youth with caring adult volunteers, we work to ensure that 'Bigs' and 'Littles' will stay matched in a healthy friendship for years to come.  Program staff also make regular contact with all participants of our program to offer resources and guidance," commented Mike Lind, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa.

"Ultimately, we are providing longer and stronger matches in the Cedar Valley and I am proud that we have been recognized for it."

Lind will accept the Award during the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Leadership Summit in Chicago, Illinois in June.

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa and how to support us as a volunteer or financial contributor, visit www.iowabigs.org or call 319-235-9397.

As the nation's largest mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful and monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles").  Research proves that the Big Brotherse Big Sisters mentoring program has a long-lasting impact on the children they serve.  Children in the program are 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to use illegal drugs, and 27% more likely to receive a four-year degree.  Annually, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa serves nearly 300 children in Northeast Iowa.  The agency strives to develop a positive relationship between the Big and Little to have a direct and lasting effect on the young person's life.

"You're Off To Great Places, Today Is Your Day!"

We would like to congratulate the following Little Brothers and Little Sisters who graduated high school this year!  We are so proud of all of you and wish you the best of luck in your future ahead!

We would also like to take special time out to thank the Big Brothers and Big Sisters who stood by their Littles along the way.  You have all been a great inspiration to your Littles and we have enjoyed being a part of your journey.

Little Brother:  Aaron
Big Brother:     Dave Vandeventer
Match Date:    November 2008
Aaron plans to attend Hawkeye Community College in the fall to pursue a degree in Music Eduacation.




Little Brother:  Mitchell
Big Brother:    John Mardis
Match Date:   October 2006
Mitchell plans to pursue his career options in the Cedar Valley.





Little Sister:  Makaila
Big Sister:     Maribeth Boelts
Match Date:  March 2006
Makaila plans to attend Kirkwood Community College in the fall to pursue a degree in Culinary Arts.

Little Sister:  Nakia
Big Sister:    Carol Houk
Match Date: December 2008
Nakia plans to attend the University of Iowa in the fall.

May Matches and June Anniversaries

Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to WELCOME the following new matches made in May:

Colby Burt and Keenan
Brady Ellenbecker and Billy
Kailey Kaestner and Hailey
Matt Luedman and Kahlil
Angela Orr and Stephanie


CONGRATS to the following matches reaching their anniversary during the month of June:

One Year:
Tenille Graf and DeNay
Andrea Schupbach and Jazmyn

Two Years:
McKenzie Bruch and Haylee
Adam Eich and Martez
Dana McDougall and De'Vontay
Lindsey Petersen and Zoe

Three Years:
Erin Meeker and Aliyah
Jonathan Wangler and Kelondis

Four Years:
Dave Kane and Elliott

Five Years:
Christy & Dietrich Tice and Joesph

Match Spotlight: Ashley and Lacey

Ashley and Lacey were matched in the School Based program back in September, 2011. Ashley contacted Big Brothers Big Sisters at the beginning of her college career with the aspiration to help a child by being a positive role-model and someone a child could talk to. Before becoming involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ashley utilized her desire to help others by volunteering with the Special Olympics and Cadet teaching for a kindergarten class during her senior year in high school. Ashley is completing her internship this summer at the YMCA before graduating and receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Family Services from the University of Northern Iowa.

Lacey lives with her grandmother and two sisters. Lacey’s grandmother works hard to provide for the family which leaves limited time to spend with Lacey one on one. Lacey expressed to her school teacher that she would like a Big Sister so she would have someone to talk to and spend time with.  In the past three years Lacey has been able to do just that with her Big Sister, Ashley.

Throughout the last three years, Ashley has met with Lacey at her school consistently and the two have enjoyed doing many activities together such as playing cards, word/math games, putting puzzles together and working on Lacey’s school work. Now that Ashley is about to start a new chapter in her life, her schedule will no longer allow her to meet with Lacey in school. Lacey told Ashley that she would still like to continue spending time with her and brought up the idea of switching to the Community Based program. Ashley met Lacey’s idea with great enthusiasm because she too did not want to end the wonderful relationship that they had developed the last few years. Ashley expressed this idea to their Match Coordinator and the request was met with Lacey’s grandmother’s approval as she too has seen how much Lacey has enjoyed spending time with Ashley and how having a mentor has benefited Lacey greatly.  

It would have been easy for Ashley to close their match while taking this next big step in her life as she has already exceeded the requirements and expectations of the program. Instead, Ashley has used this next chapter as a way to open new doors for their match and build on their already solid friendship. It is going to be great watching their relationship grow even stronger as they experience new and exciting things together out in the community! 

April Matches and May Anniversaries

Big Brothers Big Sisters would like to WELCOME the following new matches made in April:

Cassie Burkett and MaKenzie
Allyxandra Eastland and Stephanie


CONGRATS to the following matches reaching their anniversary during the month of May:

Three Years:
Abbie Smith and Bobbie

Tips for Thursday: Substance Abuse Trends Among Youth

Last week, during the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lunch-N-Learn, we discussed drug trends and related issues associated with youth.  We had the pleasure welcoming Jacquelyn Preston from Pathways Behavioral Services as our guest speaker.

Jacquelyn is a Community Prevention Educator and carries great knowledge on topics related to substance abuse among adults and youth.  Below you will find a few slides taken from her presentation. 

For Bigs, you can play a critical role in having conversations with your Littles surrounding the risks and negative impacts drug use can have on youth.  These conversations can be difficult at times to have, but by focusing on your Little's interests during the conversation, will help make it less intimidating and accusatory.  For example, if your Little is interested in sports or music, discuss this interest followed by a discussion on examples of what the Little thinks could be barriers and obstacles along the way that would impede their ability to participate in sports or whatever their interest might be at the time.

Or, bring up current events in the news as smokeless tobacco products and marijuana are common discussions in the media currently.  How does your Little feel about the trends and how could drug use affect their own interests?  Having conversations surrounding the trends youth are facing can help introduce the fact that these trends are risky and will cause harm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information or for the full presentation, please contact Big Brothers Big Sisters.