Recent Posts
by Shea Belsky When I first reached out to JBBBS in April 2019, I had a clear idea of who I’d be a great Big for. I’m Shea Belsky, an autistic 25-year-old who has been through the public school system. I had an IEP, physical therapy, speech therapy, a psychologist, a one-on-one aide and much…
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by Parent of Little (Anonymous) As a parent of a transgender daughter, it is hard to fully express my gratitude for JBBBS’ LGBTQ+ mentoring program. I do so little, yet my child benefits so much. Over time, I’ve found my role in the program to be one of trust, support, and space, which I think…
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by Camden H. Mamigonian My volunteering journey started in earnest at my first employer when I heard about an informal organization within the company that developed events in local schools to expose students to STEM. It sounded like an incredible group to be a part of, and a fun and worthy cause to support, so…
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by Ariella Honig My Little and I made a promise to each other the first day we met. A little nervous and excited, I remember walking from my house on a rainy March day. I had been waiting six months to get paired with a Little and my match specialist assured me that she thought…
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Elisa and I have been matched for more than 5 years. My children had graduated from high school and were on their way. Volunteering a few hours each month was both attainable and a way of adding something special to my life. I was open to learning about different programs and settled into JBBBS’ Friend 2 Friend program
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What’s in a Name?” – it’s a famous line uttered by Juliet in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ stating that a name is just a name and its meaning is utterly irrelevant when it comes to the person who holds it. But my experience has been different. There has always been something to the name “Zach” for me.
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Like many other JBBBS volunteers, I didn’t know if I would be a good Big Sister when I first applied. I worried that whoever I was matched with, we just wouldn’t connect. Putting yourself out there can be difficult regardless of age. All I knew is that I wanted to be there for a young adult in the same way that I could have benefited from a mentor when I was teen. I wanted to let someone else know that they were not alone.
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I was a ball of nerves walking up to Starbucks to meet my Friend 2 Friend match. I am usually pretty good at meeting new people and making new friends, but this was different. I joined JBBBS because I wanted to make a difference so I really wanted my match to like me. Little did I know, becoming friends with Emily would be so easy.
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I cannot speak to the impact that I have had on my Little. But I can say confidently from my volunteer experience that you wouldn’t regret getting involved with this program. Being a part of this young man’s life, giving time to develop our youth and future, understanding that life is meant to be fun and uplifting, and elevating each other are all reasons Jahni will forever be a brother to me!
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The lifelong benefits of summer camp are well-documented; ask any adult about their camp experiences, and a flood of memories usually follows. Associated with the freedom of summer and all that it brings, these camp memories occupy a special place, distinct from the remembrances of school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. JBBBS is very fortunate to have donors who understand how important it is for every child to have an opportunity to attend camp and who have supported our JBBBS Camp Scholarship Fund over the years.
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