In a recent interview Lieutenant General David Patraeus was asked what boys need:
"What boys need," he says, "are role models, parental supervision, and encouragement to pursue excellence in all that they do, especially in education, where we must do whatever is necessary to keep them in school. They need direction to stay on the straight and narrow, a push
to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities, help to pursue
a healthy lifestyle, recognition that they must be accountable for their actions, and reinforcement of good performance."
Some Facts you might like to know:
- Over 60 percent of the boys in our program live in single-parent households led by their mother.
- Most of the boys looking for a mentor wait over six months for someone to care about them.
- Our mentors often report they get more out of the relationship then they ever thought possible.
- We have mature adult males with high-level executive jobs carrying coins from Chuck E. Cheese in their car.
- We have men who mentor as teams, sharing activities and time with their little brothers.
- 80 percent of the boys who are in our program report that they have great Big brothers...that means that you only have a 20 percent chance of not being great!
Is there a Need? Visit Boys Project and see how important you can be to one of the boys on our wait list.
Thinking you need help?
We have wonderful support staff and a twenty-four hour beeper. You have a question, concern or need we are available. We call you monthly to chat and hear about your match. Share the good things and problem solve any bumps along the way. Use our blog to see what others are doing locally or in situations common to Bigs and Littles (Yes, you are the Big and the child is the Little. We didn't come up with the terms, rather that was a national decision.)
Great Links
Learning about guy stuff
Still not sure if mentoring is for you? Order our 2006 Bringing Men to Mentoring CD. Email Amanda Cole, Director of Client Services, to get your copy.
