Monarch Legacy Fund of The Community Foundation of Shelby County Awards Funding to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke Counties

Big Buddy: Jacob Bice son of Amie Tiernan of Anna with Little Buddy, Arnold Fleming son of Linda Hammons of Sidney learning about engineering through toothpicks and marshmallows.

The Monarch Legacy Fund of the Community Foundation of Shelby County recently awarded a grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby and Darke County. Big Brothers Big Sisters was chosen to receive funding because of its continued efforts to make a positive impact in “at risk” children. The funding will be used for the school mentoring program that pairs high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with elementary aged students twice a month.

New to the program this year is a “STEM” curriculum which promotes the importance of Science Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics. We anticipate this component to be a source of fun and exploration as students study topics from building bridges with marshmallows & toothpicks to exploring mathematics through technology.

The High School Mentoring program known as “Big Buddies” is nine-month commitments where volunteer high school students mentor elementary age children two times a month at an agency designation. This year the program operates at Northwood Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, and Whittier Elementary School in Sidney with over 100 children being served in these programs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shelby & Darke County is a nonprofit, United Way member, social service organization whose mission is to develop and mature quality relationships between children and volunteers. The relationship is meant to guide each child towards becoming a confident, competent, and caring individual.