Welcome
Dear Volunteer,
Thank you for choosing to make a difference in a child's life. There are all kinds of statistics that show what a huge difference a Big Brother or Big Sister can make in a child's life, but the numbers are often difficult to associate with real people and real life situations.
I invite you instead to think back to when you were younger. Who was the person in your life who made a difference to you? It may have been a neighbor who taught you a new skill, a cousin who took you to your first ball game, an aunt or uncle or family friend who taught you how to play catch or ride a bike or fly a kite or helped with math homework.
These are all magical moments for children that help them develop confidence in themselves and caring for the world around them. We all had someone in our lives, other than a parent, who made a difference to us. This is what you can do for a child in our program. It's so simple–it's just a matter of making yourself available on a consistent basis. It's showing you care. It's having fun with a child. It's listening to them talk about whatever is going on in their life. It's a series of small, teachable moments that in the end instill a sense of wonder, warmth, and magic into a child's life.
You are about to become a Big Brother or Big Sister–a friend to a child. And both your lives will be forever changed by the experience.
We're happy to have you in the Big Brothers Big Sisters family. I hope you have a wonderful experience.
Peggy Owens
President/CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska