TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This September, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is calling on volunteers to become “big” mentors. The Mentorship Equals 2.0 campaign launches during Big Brothers Big Sisters Month in September and is designed to inspire adults over 18 to learn more about mentoring and their potential role in the equation.
Building on the original campaign launched last September, this moment puts the spotlight on adults whose lives have been shaped by mentoring relationships they experienced as children. Mentoring is a relationship that nurtures potential and encourages growth. Over time, this develops into a powerful bond. For mentors, the rewards add up to fulfillment and for mentees, the benefits are exponential.
“It’s inspiring to hear these now-grown former mentees reflect on their journey,” says Jill Zelmanovits, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. “Their stories show how mentoring definitely helps a child make positive choices and channel their resilience, which directly improves their life chances into adulthood.”
This year’s Mentorship Equals campaign features Marc Lafleur, a Canadian entrepreneur, race car driver and former “Little” (mentee) whose life choices were supported by the mentor he met over 20 years ago. Marc has recently partnered with Mercedes-Benz Canada and BBBS on “Driving Your Future” events where he shares his story with the next generation of mentees and mentors (“Bigs”) in hopes of serving as an inspiration that anyone, from any background, can succeed.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Month is celebrated across Canada to highlight the meaningful work being done in communities through the BBBS network. Life experience is exactly what children need to learn from their mentors. Mentors volunteer a few hours of their time each month and receive training and support from professional staff on how to build safe and consistent relationships with adults.
“Honestly… becoming a Big from being a Little… probably saved my life,” says Mike Stackhouse, looking back on the time when he became a Little (mentee) in Atlantic Canada and now runs a successful printing business in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
To learn more about Marc, Mike and mentoring opportunities, visit mentorshipequals.ca.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) is a non-profit organization that unites local mentoring providers from coast to coast in urban, rural, remote and Indigenous communities. BBBSC supports individual Big Brother Big Sisters (BBBS) service providers through a federated model by fostering growth, innovation and collective strength across the BBBS network. Children and families are at the heart of everything we do. In 2023, more than 31,600 children benefited from developmental relationships with over 17,500 trained volunteers. The national organization offers member agencies services and programs to support them in their work with parents, caregivers, school communities, mentees and volunteers.
Contact:
Marina Joseph
Big brothers, big sisters of Canada
[email protected]
1-800-263-9133; extension 24
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e25bf4a-da09-4229-bd10-02d0e1360cba
