BIG BROTHERS & amp; BIG SISTERS Dinner event will mark agency's 35th anniversary

The dinner will honor past and present volunteers of the nonprofit agency.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- State Auditor Betty Montgomery will help a local mentoring organization celebrate two anniversaries this month.
Big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters of the Mahoning Valley, which has offices on North State Street, will mark the local agency's 35th year of service this month, while the national group celebrates its centennial anniversary.
Montgomery, who serves as the honorary chair of Big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters in Ohio, will be the keynote speaker for the local group at a recognition dinner, set for Oct. 13 at McMenamy's, 325 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a reception; dinner starts at 7.
Quotable
"Betty has done a lot of work for our agency throughout the state," noted Brian Higgins, executive director of Big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters of the Mahoning Valley. "Even a few years ago, when I took over as executive director, our agency in particular was facing a pretty stiff financial situation. She went so far as to make a personal donation to the agency, which helped keep us afloat."
The dinner will be attended by current and former board members, staffers and mentoring participants, but is also open to the public, Higgins said.
Montgomery will speak about the importance of programs such as Big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters, which pairs adult volunteers with children age 7 to 15. The nonprofit agency is partially funded through the United Way of Trumbull County, grants from local foundations and private donations.
The local Big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters agency started in October 1969. At that time, only boys were matched with male volunteers age 18 and older, but by 1977 the organization grew to include girls.
The national big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters organization started in 1904 in Cincinnati and is considered the oldest and largest youth mentoring program in the United States. By 2002, 470 agencies throughout the country served more than 200,000 youths in more than 5,000 communities.
Through the mentoring program, adult volunteers are screened and trained to assist children by spending time together and forming a relationship to last a lifetime.
Waiting list
Currently, Higgins said, 136 boys and girls in Mahoning and Trumbull counties are matched with adults. But there are more than 70 children on a waiting list, hoping to be placed through the agency.
"In a perfect world, social workers like us believe the need for our skills and services will fizzle out, because everyone will have been helped," Higgins said. "But the reality is that there are so many kids out there that could use a program like this. There are so many families that are single-parent households, families headed by an aunt or a grandparent, or families that are struggling financially.
"We are going to be here forever."
The agency is also in need of volunteers at all levels, Higgins added. Those willing to serve as mentors or even board members are encouraged to contact the local office by phone or on the Internet at www.bbbsmv.com.
Those interested in attending the recognition dinner can buy tickets for $25 at the Big Brothers & amp; Big Sisters office or by calling (330) 545-0002.
slshaulis@vindy.com