The North Carolina Empowering Kids and Communities Foundation is proud to sponsor six matches at Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring, which has transformed the lives of thousands of vulnerable children (Littles) through one-to-one mentoring, while strengthening entire families in hardship, since 1902.
Serving children ages 7-19 and their families, primarily from single-parent low income households in New York City, professional staff match screened and trained volunteer mentors (Bigs) with each child, and use a strategic family systems approach, provide intensified family services and deepened engagement, including crisis intervention and case management services, life skills and wellness group programming; as well as referrals to community-based organizations to address legal, health, housing and other needs.
Bigs & Littles NYC thoughtfully brings caring adult mentors into childrens’ lives, taking each participant’s unique background, interests, family history and geographic location into consideration before making a match. Mentoring builds hope, increases potential, and helps to create caring, responsible adults. Providing support for parents, in conjunction with the support and services their children receive, dramatically increases the likelihood for short- and long-term youth success socially, emotionally, academically, and financially. The research is clear that children are only as healthy as their families. Despite facing the innumerable personal and family challenges amplified by the pandemic, youth and families have continued to show strong, positive outcomes despite.
In 2022:
• 99% of youth were promoted to the next grade.
• 94% of high school seniors (15 out of 16) graduated and all 15 are attending college or vocational program.
• 97% of youth displayed increase in self-confidence.
• 98% of youth avoided derailing behaviors.
Matched over the last 12 months, sponsored youth are between the ages of 11 and 17, and each has had the opportunity to vastly expand their horizons, exploring NYC with their Big Brother or Big Sister. Match activities include everything from checking out museums and comic bookstores, bowling, rollerblading, trying new foods and visiting new neighborhoods, watching basketball and baseball games, playing sports, baking, painting in the park, taking walks, and going on a pizza food tour to find NYCs best pizza! Matches also attended Bigs & Littles group events such as the Holiday Party at Dave and Busters, College and Career exploration night at IBM and the STEAM Rocket Building workshop.
NCEKCF is proud to partner with such an impactful organization in New York City. We look forward to seeing our sponsored matches grow and evolve over the year!
