Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan is hosting Paint the Town Green from Sunday, September 14 to Sunday, September 20, a weeklong awareness campaign that celebrates the power of mentorship. The focus is visibility and conversation, not fundraising. “Mentorship is the spark that can ignite a lifetime of confidence, courage, and possibility in local youth,” said Jessie Reyes, Marketing Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan.
The need is immediate. More than 100 local youth are waiting to be matched with a mentor. Research cited by the organization shows that youth in BBBS programming are 20 percent more likely to pursue post-secondary education and earn about 15 percent more income over their lifetimes than peers without mentors. Community members are invited to participate all week. Wear a PTTG shirt or anything green, look for signs and displays around town, and share photos using the hashtag #PTTGwithBBBS to help spark conversations. Tell a friend or colleague about becoming a Big so the waitlist moves faster. Those ready to take the next step can start the volunteer process at ThinkBigToday.org/volunteer.