Volunteer Opportunities in Utah: A Little Way to Make a BIG Difference
Today, children face countless challenges and uncertainties, which is why having the steady guiding hand of a mentor can make all the difference. Did you know today, in the US 1-in-3 kids are growing up without a sustained adult mentor in their life? That is why in September 2023, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) launched the National campaign, “It Takes Little to Be Big” with the goal of engaging 1-MILLION alumni, potential volunteers, and donors to get involved with the BBBS mission.
BBBSA is a national organization that has been around for over 100 years. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah has been at the forefront of providing mentoring support for 45 years in Utah. BBBS National campaign, “It Takes Little to Be Big” encapsulates the essence of what we do – it only takes a little effort to become a significant part of a child’s life and shape their future positively. Grammy Nominated Recording Artist, Aloe Blacc was so inspired by our mission he decided to write a song about Big Brothers Big Sisters called “Never Let You Down,” which has become an anthem for this new campaign.
This campaign has three main goals:
- Recruit Potential Volunteers:
Mentorship is a powerful tool for personal growth and development Our programs pair caring adult volunteers (“Bigs”) with children (“Littles”) to provide guidance, support, and friendship. Through volunteer opportunities in Utah, this one-to-one mentorship relationship has the potential to change lives in profound ways.
Becoming a mentor doesn’t take a lot. Brothers Big Sisters of Utah Bigs and Littles are asked to spend approximately 2-4 hours a month together. Activities can be simple and short, and yet meaningful for both parties. Examples of activities include going to the park, getting a slice of pizza, playing soccer, or visiting a museum. A small amount of time can go a long way. This campaign aims to show how a little time can make a BIG difference with taglines like, “10 minutes over pizza can last a lifetime.”
Many people want to make a difference, but may feel like the title of mentor is too intimidating to live up to, but being a mentor has few requirements, besides being a kind, caring and compassionate person. The truth is, kids don’t care if you are perfect, they just need you to be present. Even if you are struggling in your life, you can turn that into a valuable lesson for your mentee while subconsciously teaching yourself to be more resilient, strong and positive.
- Calling on our Alumni:
As a national long-standing organization, BBBSA has over 20 million alumni around the nation who have had the power of mentoring touch their lives. Alumni include Bigs and Littles who have been in our programs. Many of our staff meet people in day-to-day interactions who share stories of their time in BBBS and share stories about how they are still in touch with their Little, even after being matched 20 years ago. The impact our matches make are truly life long.
One of the remarkable aspects of mentoring is the ability to break down barriers that children may face. Many Littles come from challenging backgrounds, and the presence of a Big in their lives can be a beacon of hope. Mentors offer a safe space for children to express themselves, ask questions, and learn about the world around them. Allowing Bigs to be someone they can have open and honest conversations with. As a result, Bigs can help Littles build tools for success in the future.
When you become a Big, through BBBSU’s volunteer opportunities in Utah,you not only impact the life of a child but also contribute to the betterment of your community. It’s a win-win situation that creates a ripple effect of positivity.Although Bigs and Littles are encouraged to only spend 2-6 hours a month together, the impact can be indefinite. The impact of mentorship through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah can extend far beyond childhood. Many Littles who have benefited from the program go on to become successful adults who give back to their communities.
- Potential Donors:
BBBS has served 5,000 communities across the US, with the connections we have made in so many lives it is easy to say what we do makes a DIFFERENCE. You can help us make a BIG difference too. More than 91,000 children in Utah are living in poverty, and many of them are facing additional risk factors including having an incarcerated parent or living in foster/kinship care.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah (BBBSU) brings mentors (Bigs) into the lives of children (Littles) ages 6-18 facing multiple risk factors. Bigs and Littles meet in the community, at a school, or at a workplace; they usually see each other two or three times per month. The Big and Little as a “mentoring match” form a friendship, work towards goals, and teach each other all kinds of things! And all along the way BBBSU staff are in regular contact offering training and support.
Our one-to-one mentoring programs lead to important outcomes for BBBSU Littles in four key areas:
- Encouraging Educational Achievement
- Supporting Emotional Well-Being
- Building Life Skills
- Promoting Positive Choices.
Encouraging Educational Achievement
Economically disadvantaged students in Utah graduate at a rate 9.6% lower than their peers. This is the 11th largest difference in the country, which means as a community we have work to do. That is a gap BBBSU is trying to fill. Littles in our programs are more likely to have the support they need to graduate. 95% of Little in one of our BBBSU programs graduate high school.
Supporting Emotional Well-Being
In 2020, suicide was the number one cause of death for kids ages 10-17 in Utah. In 2021, 75% of Utah kids reported depressive symptoms. There is no way to perfectly calculate the difference having a personal champion makes, but 92% of Littles reported on-going or improved emotional regulation abilities.
Building Life Skills
Research shows that children’s relationships with peers and caring adults are a key vehicle for learning critical life skills, such as teamwork, communication, and coping with and expressing feelings. Out of the Littles in our program, 83% improved or maintained their goal setting skills.
Promoting Positive Choices
In 2021, nearly 40% of Utah students reported being bullied. Having a mentor helps many kids improve their behaviors and make good choices. 92% of Little in our programs had fewer or no increase in school discipline issues or bullying behaviors and 98% avoided substance use.
Be Big – Here’s How:
Now, you might be wondering how you can get involved. There are several ways to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah:
– Become a Big – It doesn’t take a lot to become a Big. You don’t need certain qualifications or a certain title. You just need to be caring, compassionate, and willing. This simple, yet important commitment can change a child’s trajectory for the better.
– Activate Media – Donate in-kind media (Digital, Print, TV, Radio, Streaming and Outdoor)
– Generate Support – Become a corporate partner; Let’s create turnkey experiences for your employees & consumers to empower youth by generating awareness & revenue for BBBSA.
– Build Community – Share your story & support our platform for others to do so. Inspire audiences
– Make a Donation – Financial support is essential for the sustainability of the program. You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring contributions to help Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah continue its work. For further information on ways to donate, visit click here.
By becoming a Big, making a donation, or volunteering your time, you can be part of a positive journey, helping children in your community reach their full potential and build brighter futures. Don’t underestimate the power of a little effort—it can lead to big changes in a child’s life.
