The Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism

This Week we Celebrate Mentoring Volunteerism!

• Provides underserved youth with access to scientists & engineers to serve as role models
• Provides access to hands-on STEM enrichment programs
• Helps to address the need for more Scientists & Engineers with 21st century skills

• Decrease antisocial behavior as measured by alcohol and drug use, and violent behavior
• Improved academic outcomes as measured by improved grades and a decrease in truant behavior
• Improved family and peer relationships

• “Perhaps the single most important protective factor for development among at-risk children is a positive relationship with at least one caring adult” (Scales and Gibbons, 1996). You can be that difference in one child’s life!
• Mentoring has been proven to have a demonstrable effect on a child’s self-esteem, choices regarding drugs and alcohol use, and academic achievement and feelings regarding school.
• Youth with disabilities are 2.5 times more likely to drop out of high school than other youth, and they are four times more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system. These youth face many extra challenges growing up, but having a helping hand along the way can make all the difference in the world.

• Since 1988, Raw Art Works in Lynn, MA has passionately pursued its mission to ignite the desire to create and the confidence to succeed in underserved youth, using the power of the arts to transform young lives one artist at a time. RAW serves over 430 youth each year in weekly groups and another 850+ in community programs. RAW’s continuum of service to children, teens and young adults offers increased challenge and responsibility at each developmental stage. The continuum culminates with Project Launch, a college access program where volunteer mentors and RAW staff support students and their families through the college and financial aid application process. With Lynn’s dropout rate twice the state average, it is remarkable that for the past five years, 100% of RAW’s high school seniors have graduated high school (compared to 68% of Lynn’s high school seniors) and over 90% go on to college (compared to 69% of Lynn’s high school graduates).

• Mentors can give their mentees a broader outlook and help them become contributing members of their communities and their schools.
• Mentors give support, guidance and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of their mentees.
• Mentors can enhance their mentees social skills and emotional well being.

Congratulations to this week's "Patriots Difference Maker" – Bob Winskowicz

Bob Winskowicz
Volunteer, Family Services, Inc.

Bob Winskowicz has been a mentor in the Big Friends Little Friends program of Family Service since March, 2006. Bob spends time with his mentee Justin, now a sophomore in high school, every week. The two enjoy going to church, going to breakfast and to the gym. Bob has gone above and beyond as a mentor and, according to Justin’s mom, has touched their family in so many ways. Bob has helped to get Justin a private tutor and is very involved in his schooling, going to all of Justin’s IEP meetings and communicating regularly with teachers. Justin struggled in school for many years, often receiving D’s and F's. Thanks to Bob’s support, Justin now makes A's and B’s. There have been many challenges over the years, but Bob has remained steadfast and supportive. One year, the family was living in a homeless shelter and Bob got the family a $100 gift certificate to Wal-Mart. According to Justin’s mom, Bob has “adopted the entire family.” He sends her a card every year on her birthday and when she was in the hospital, Bob visited her and called every day to see how she was doing. Justin had to write a paper for class about the most influential person in his life and he wrote it about Bob. Justin even started dressing like Bob and wearing his hair like him! This summer, Bob signed Justin up for a football summer camp that was run by current and former Patriots' players. This is Justin’s second year playing high school football. Justin has said "I can be a real pain, but Bob is always there for me." Justin’s mom becomes teary when she talks about Bob and says that “He is part of their family. He is one in a million and Justin has really lucked out.” Bob has told them he will never give up on Justin and this is a forever match.


What mentoring volunteer opportunities can I pursue?

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc.

• Become a Big Brother/Sister at one of our site-based locations. This program matches local volunteers (college, corporate, etc.) with children at school-based or after school-based sites. After both parties complete applications, our Interview & Match Support Specialists match our volunteers and children based on a variety of factors, such as personalities, interests and family history. After being matched, the Big and Little will find a good time when the Big should visit and they will then meet once a week typically for about an hour. The matches will be able to engage in activities of their choice at the site, such as going to the gym to play basketball or doing arts and crafts together. Periodically, a Match Support Specialist will check in with the Big and Little and offer support, suggestions and opportunities for the match to engage in. For more information, visit www.bbbscm.org.
• Become a Big Brother/Sister in our community-based location. The community-based program matches children with members of the local community. The Interview & Match Support Specialists pairs Bigs and Littles based on a variety of factors, such as interests, family history, location and personalities. After the initial match meeting where the Big and Little meet for the first time, it is up to the match to plan visits or activities approximately three to four times per month. These visits typically last for a few hours each. Activities should be agreed upon by the Big, Little and parent/guardian – possible activities for community-based matches could include: going to the library, going to a local park, attending a sporting event or grabbing a bite to eat. An assigned Match Support Specialist will check in with both the Big and the parent/guardian of the Little at least once per month to make sure all is well with the match. For more information, visit www.bbbscm.org.
• There are volunteer opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters where you will not be asked to work directly with children including the 50th Anniversary Celebration on April, 20, 2013, at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA. They are seeking volunteers to join sub-committees (i.e. auction, sponsorships, etc.) to ensure a successful event. For more information, please call Worcester, MA, office (508-752-7868) and ask to speak to someone in Development.

• Big Friends Little Friends
  Leah Feroce: 978-327-6640 lferoce@familyserviceinc.com
  Formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lawrence, BFLF matches mentors with young people ages 6-14. Mentors serve as positive role models, provide friendship, guidance and support that help youth reach their full potential. BFLF is a community based program that matches one to one, couples or family matches.
• GRAD Mentoring Program
  Yadira Cruz-Valdez: 978-327-6669 ycruzvaldez@familyserviceinc.com  
  The GRAD Mentoring Program matches adult mentors with young people who are at risk of dropping out of Lawrence Public Schools. GRAD is a community based mentoring-program. A minimum of 8 hours of monthly contact is required. Monthly socials are held for the mentors and mentees.
• AMIGOS Mentoring Program
  Lina Serna: 978-327-6638 lserna@familyserviceinc.com  
  The AMIGOS Mentoring Program matches adult mentors with students from grades 4–8 at the South Lawrence East Schools in Lawrence. Mentors and mentees meet weekly at the student’s school with the goal of improving student's academic achievement.

• Latino STEM Alliance’s Robotics program at the Boys & Girls Club Blue Hill (Dorchester)
• Latino STEM Alliance’s Robotics program at the Dover-McCormack Middle School (Dorchester)
• Latino STEM Alliance’s Robotics program at South Lawrence East Middle

• BECOME A MENTOR!!!
• Sponsor an event – through either a financial donation, a donation of space, food or resources
• Volunteer to help with planning a recruitment event or fundraiser ie. Mentor Recruitment Rally or Bowl for Kids Sake
• Help us recruit additional mentors through the development of relationships with local businesses

• Interested in mentoring? Want to make a difference in the life of a child? The Mentor Match program currently has over 90 youth waiting to be matched with a caring adult mentor. Anyone that is over the age of 18 and lives in either the Boston or Amherst area can apply to become a mentor. Mentors commit to meeting with their mentee at least once a month for 4-6 hours, staying touch on a weekly basis through phone or email, and staying matched for at least one year. If you are interested in applying to become a mentor, contact Steve Slowinski at sslowinski@pyd.org or 617-556-4075 x18.

• Project LAUNCH Mentor - RAW created the successful Project Launch Program with the goal of providing mentors for seniors at RAW to help them navigate the difficult process of applying for college admission, financial aid, and scholarships. RAW is now seeking volunteers who are willing to become year-long mentors to the graduating high school seniors of RAW as they apply to college or map out alternative post-high school plans. If interested, please contact Kathe Swaback, at kathe@rawartworks.org .

• Mentor for Latino male, gr 9 Springfield Central High – 1 hour a week on Thursdays at 12:30.
• Mentor for female, gr. 5 student at Zanetti School
• Mentor for female student, Gr. 6 – Zanetti School
• Mentor for Latino female, grade 9 – Springfield Central High

*Contact Judy Kelly at 413.6656 or kellyj@sps.springfield.ma.us for more information . One Hour a Week Can make a Difference!