{"id":980,"date":"2012-03-30T05:00:49","date_gmt":"2012-03-30T12:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=980"},"modified":"2021-02-03T17:12:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T01:12:00","slug":"mentoring-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/mentoring-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Mentoring the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BBBSPositive role models can make a big impact in the life of an at-risk youth. Among the many non-profits supported by Yardi Systems each year is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle in North Carolina, where more than 950 children ages 6-14 are matched with adults who make a difference in their lives.<\/p>\n

Serving Orange, Durham and Wake Counties, the mentoring non-profit fields a constant need for volunteers, especially men, to support their mentees, or \u201clittles,\u201d as grant coordinator Katie Williams affectionately calls them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe typical parent who walks in our door is a single mother looking for male mentor for her son,\u201d Williams explained. \u201cWe have success stories that will bring you to tears \u2013 it works.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mentors commit to meeting with their little \u201csibling\u201d at least once per week. The program sponsors both community mentoring, in which the mentors take their charges on outings around town, or site-based mentoring, in which the mentors meet their littles at a school site.<\/p>\n

Beyond guidance on schoolwork, friendships and personal relationships, sports and goal setting, the mentors are able to support life lessons like the importance of exercise and nutrition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe focus of our Healthy Child Initiative is to make nutrition and physical activity part of the mentor relationship,\u201d Williams said. \u201cA lot of children we serve are those who are at risk for obesity. \u00a0Our matches are encouraged to not take their mentors to the movies, but maybe to the park, or on a bike ride, and include physical activity as a positive part of their relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yardi\u2019s donations have supported the Healthy Child Initiative as well as a new program for BBBS, an education initiative that makes excelling in the classroom a theme emphasized by the mentors and reinforced in partnership with the mentees\u2019 schools.\u00a0 Volunteers are able to talk with the teachers of the child they\u2019re mentoring and learn where they might need out-of-class help.<\/p>\n

\"BBBSAnother program Yardi donations have aided specifically targets the children of incarcerated parents, who benefit greatly from having a positive adult role model while their mother or father is away from home.<\/p>\n

Mentors are asked to serve for a minimum of one year, but the benefits of the relationships begin appearing after that time, so they\u2019re urged to continue longer if possible, Williams said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne year is the point at which positive results tend to be seen,\u201d she explained. \u201cThe longer you go the more positive impact the relationship has.\u201d<\/p>\n

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle is actively seeking new adult volunteers, especially men. Through June 7, they’re on a quest to sign up “100 Men in 100 Days.” If you can help, call 919-850-9772 or find out more at www.bbbstriangle.org<\/a><\/p>\n

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