BBBSNH Partners with the YMCA
1/18/2022
January is National Mentoring Month
More than 200 youth in New Hampshire are in need of a mentor
MANCHESTER, NH—January is National Mentoring Month and to celebrate, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire (BBBSNH) is teaming up with The Granite YMCA to increase awareness and recruit adult mentors for more than 200 youth on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire’s waiting list.
“The need for mentors in our communities has never been greater and continues to be exacerbated by the pandemic, ongoing opioid crisis and growing income gap,” said Stacy Kramer, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire. “All youth have potential; the capacity of a caring and supportive adult to inspire that potential is profound,” Kramer added
Many of the youth served by BBBSNH are facing significant adversities including, poverty, parental substance misuse or incarceration, trauma from abuse or neglect to bullying and academic struggles. By partnering with The Granite YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire will have access to hundreds of The Granite YMCA members in hopes of inspiring them to join the program knowing the direct positive impact they can make on the lives of local youth.
“This partnership is a natural fit because of the focus on youth development,” explained David Ports, President/CEO, The Granite YMCA. “I am certain that many of our members will join this effort, and we are very proud to participate in raising awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire,” Ports said.
BBBSNH will celebrate National Mentoring Month throughout January, including recognizing International Mentoring Day on January 17 and National Thank Your Mentor Day on January 30. On that day, many Americans will reach out to thank or honor those individuals who encouraged them, guided them and had a lasting impact on their lives. To learn more about BBBSNH or to become a mentor visit www.bbbsnh.org.
ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
For 55 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire (BBBSNH) has been providing one-to-one mentoring to youth across the Granite State. BBBSNH’s mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth by achieving academic and social success and avoid risk behaviors, our vision is that all youth reach their fullest potential. BBBSNH is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and recognized as an evidence-based preventive program by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. For more information about becoming a mentor, or to enroll a child, visit www.bbbsnh.org or call 1-844-NH4-BIGS.
About The Granite YMCA
As one of the state’s longest standing and most enduring non-profits, The Granite YMCA focuses on youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, and family strengthening. Across the state, its six branches engage 30,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to improve their health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. In 2020, in the midst of a pandemic, The Granite YMCA provided financial assistance and free services valued at over $1 million to 5,144 individuals. To learn more, please visit www.graniteymca.org.