Cornell Honors Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Participants

From Rockland County Legislature: Rockland County Legislator Harriet Cornell led a celebration for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County’s 2017 Mentee Graduation program, honoring two youths and their volunteer mentors.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the preeminent organizations in Rockland County,” Legislator Cornell said. “What you do has very far-reaching impacts – both for the youth and volunteers who are involved and for our larger community. I thank Big Brothers Big Sisters for making a difference and making Rockland County a better place.”

Cornell was joined at the podium by Legislature Chairman Toney L. Earl and Majority Leader Legislator Aney Paul.

Honored were Little Brother Joseph Vazquez and his Big Sister, Margie Goldstein, and Little Sister Shereese McNeill and her Big Sister, Diome Kramer.

Cornell also thanked Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Executive Director, Gillian Ballard, and its Board Chairman, Scott Ugell.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County pairs a volunteer mentor with a youth between the ages of 6 and 18 who is facing adversity. Together they share simple low-cost or no-cost outings allowing them time to get to know each other and to converse.

The relationship can have far-reaching impacts, as a study by Public/Private Ventures, a Philadelphia-based national research organization, has shown.

Youth who participate in the mentoring program do better in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and are less likely to use illegal drugs or alcohol, according to the study.

But those are just the measurable statistics, because Big Brothers Big Sisters is a one-to-one relationship program that allows children and their adult mentors, who act as positive role models, to help children build trusting friendships, engage in meaningful conversations and activities, and to realize their self-worth and potential.

Mentors are there for their mentees – there to listen, to understand, to give good advice and, more often than not, becoming an extended member of the family.

“This is possible because the Little Brothers and Sisters are willing to participate and because the Big Brothers and Sisters give not only of their time, but of themselves,” Cornell said. “As the results have shown, together, these Bigs and Littles make a strong and effective team.”

Photo courtesy of Rockland County Legislature