Quincy Resident Makes a BIG Difference for Local Youth

James Beatson, of Quincy, is a volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts, the state’s leading one-to-one mentoring program for youth. Volunteers, referred to as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, for the nonprofit are caring adults who provide children with one-to-one relationships to help them reach their fullest potential. Beatson is among 4,000 Bigs this year who are making a difference in young lives with whom the nonprofit is celebrating this National Volunteer Week.

With research and proven outcomes at its core, the nonprofit creates Big-Little matches based on shared interests, geography and personality, serving as a consistent resource for Bigs, Littles and their families. The organization’s community-based mentoring in which adult mentors are paired with children, ages 7 to 12, and meet for a few hours a couple times a month at a location of their choice remains its signature program. The nonprofit also offers school-based, college campus-based programs, and Mentor 2.0, a technology-based program, for volunteers with less flexibility in their schedules. During the COVID-19 crisis, matches are maintaining relationships, leveraging the nonprofit’s online resources as social distancing kept them from meeting in-person, and finding creative ways to engage with one another.

“No matter how we grow or society shifts, children will always need guidance from caring adult mentors,” says Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts President and CEO Wendy Foster, who walks her talk as an eight-year Big Sister to her Little Sister Shanell. “We work to create those opportunities for kids who otherwise might not have that type of support to ensure they can be the best versions of themselves.”

Parents, guardians, teachers and social workers all refer youth into the nonprofit’s programs. A national study of 950 youth from eight Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies showed that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. The study found that Big Brothers Big Sisters’ matches consistently spend more time together, and continue as a match for longer periods, than those in other mentoring programs. Results also showed Bigs help Littles learn right from wrong, make better life choices, do better in school and advance to the next grade level.

“We can’t remove violence from neighborhoods overnight nor can we single-handedly fix poverty and the education gap, but we can implement proactive positive changes, one child at a time,” says Foster. “Our Bigs are defenders of BIG futures. With someone in their corner, kids are less likely to begin using alcohol and illegal drugs, skip school or bully, contributing to healthier families, better schools and stronger communities.”

In its 70th year, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 20,000 matches and will serve more than 4,000 matches this year. By 2022, the nonprofit aims to reach 5,000 youth across the region.

With hundreds of youth on our wait list, there is continued need for more volunteers to step up, specifically male volunteers. Think you have what it takes to become a Big? BBBSEM is now enrolling and matching Bigs and Littles virtually. For more information, register to volunteer or make a financial contribution, visit: www.emassbigs.org.

About Big Brother Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of more than 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. For more information about this worthwhile cause and its important mission, visit www.emassbigs.org.