Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Owen Sound will be expanding their programs to help at-risk children and youth in the community.
The goal is to recruit and train 165 volunteers and match them with 165 youth over the next three years.
The money to support the initiative is coming from a Grow Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and is worth $173,500.
That funding will support two programs, The One to One “Big Sister” Volunteer Mentoring program, and the Adult In-School Mentoring Program for boys and girls.
“I am delighted that the Ontario Trillium Foundation is providing a $173,500 grant to support a collaboration between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Owen Sound, the youth in our community and our local schools and we are so honoured to receive this funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help us launch these new programs,” said Board President and Mentoring Coordinator Mandi Lamb.
Applications are now being accepted for both volunteer mentors and for families wishing to enrol their child in a mentoring program and can be found online at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/bbowensound or by calling (519) 376-4449.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Owen Sound was established in 1964 and was one of the first 10 charter members in Canada.