HELP!! Stop the Closure of Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows

The Board of Directors has made the decision to "suspend" services and operations in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. This decision will directly affect many children and families immediately and for years to come. They are planning on closing the doors to the Ridge Meadows Office location on March 14, 2011. This is not just a matter of closing an office and putting a mentoring coordinator out of a job. This is a matter of taking a much needed program away from local youth that benefit highly from this long standing program. Many single parent families benefit from this service that has helped so many youth to make the right choices in life. A positive role model is crucial to the well being of our children. Sometimes it is not possible within our homes and must come from outside support. Some Quick Facts : The benefit children in the program gain are : 91% feel better about themselves. 65% have improved self confidence. 67% have a better sense of right and wrong. 76% show improved school grades. 80% have a better school attendance record. 82% develop better relationships with their teacher. 90% get along better with other kids. This program, is crucial to children and youth between 7 and 14 years of age needing a mentor. Children either living in a single parent home or with a relative or guardian benefit greatly from services. Just having someone to talk to and not be judged. Someone that cares and can help guide a child in the right direction without judging them. The In School Mentoring program is also being stopped. This program sees a mentor with a young person in a school environment and helps build their self-esteem and school performance all while having alot of fun. Every week families in Abbottsford, MIssion, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows turn to Big Brothers and Big Sisters to seek a mentor and a friend for a young child. There is a steady increase in the need for services as our community flourishes and the population continues to grow. Bigs often help their Littles deal with serious situations where they have no one else to talk to. These friendships strengthen and weather losses, celebrations, success, sadness and triumph. Many of the matches have maintained decades of commitment! Each and every potential big brother and big sister is screened, to make sure the children, in our community, are not places in danger with predators. Mentoring is a cause that everyone can relate to, because, everyone at some point in their lives has benefited from the positive influence of a mentor... a friend, a teacher, a guide, a listener, a supporter and a confidante. Some of us have never had to deal with a single parent family as a young child. A lot of us have dealt with it without the opportunity to have someone fill the void. I know the importance of having someone step up and help fill the gap, someone who cares, encourages and truly believes in you so you can thrive and succeed. Please support mentoring because it works. Mentoring has the power to change lives!!