WLA Partners With BBBS To Mentor Youth

Pictured L to R: 

Back:  Tianna Jackson, Amanda Butler, Tiffany Schmidt, Mackenzie Boehlke, Michael Bilitz, Jacob Borgwardt

Front:  Brianna Bakri, Erin Belling, Samantha Haynes

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) has the best partner in Winnebago Lutheran Academy (WLA).  They strongly encourage their high school juniors and seniors to volunteer as mentors in the BBBS program.  This school year, 9 WLA students were matched with Littles at local elementary schools.

“I’d like to give a BIG thank you to all of the School Based Program Bigs from WLA!” said Lisa Warntjes, School Based Coordinator for BBBS.  “What amazing role models and friends these young adults have been to their Littles.  Through their commitment, they have made a BIG impact on the lives of children in our program.  Their Littles will remember them forever, and some matches will continue into our Community Based Program after graduation, allowing them to get together outside of school.” 

“We appreciate WLA’s continued support of Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Tammy Young, Executive Director of BBBS.  “Our agency provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one to one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.” 

The BBBS School Based Program matches high school juniors and seniors (Bigs) with elementary students (Littles).  Matches get together at a local elementary school once a week for 30-45 minutes.  “That consistency for the Littles in our program is huge,” said Young.  “For many of our children, school can be a struggle, both in the classroom and socially.  Seeing their Big every week to do fun things like board games, read, draw, shoot hoops, or eat lunch together, gives them something to look forward to and a role model to look up to.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters assists children with social, emotional and character development through one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring adults.  Children in the program come from a wide variety of backgrounds, many coming from single parent households, living at or below poverty level.  Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Big Couples or Big Families in a community or school based program.  Children aged 6 through 13 can enroll in the program through a parent or guardian referral.  Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license for the community based program, 16 years old for the school based program.  For more information about the program or to volunteer, call 920-922-8200 or visit www.bbbsfdl.org.