The Bryan-College Station Eagle runs a great profile of the Brazos Valley BBBS program.

(Reprinted from theeagle.com)

By CASSIE SMITH
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It's not things bought but time spent with children that makes the difference.

Andy and Brooke Harrington said that's one of the lessons they've learned volunteering for two years as a "Big Couple" for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Brazos Valley.

"Seeing the impact you have on another individual's life, it's pretty cool, I have to admit," said 30-year-old Andy Harrington.

The Harringtons were dating at the time they decided to join the program. They were matched with Willie, whose mother enrolled him so that he'd have a positive male role model to help keep him on the right track.

"They're real fun," said Willie, whose last name won't be published for privacy reasons. "They take me out to play."

Flying kites, going to baseball games and enjoying snowcones are just a few of the activities that immediately came to Willie's mind when asked what he likes doing with the Big Couple.

Having been hit hard financially by state and federal reductions, the program is in need of money, as well as volunteers, said branch coordinator Kyndra Reed. Seventy children now are matched with volunteers, but another 100-plus kids and community members are still waiting to be paired.

"That's been the big thing for us," she said. "We just don't have funding. It takes $1,000 to make a match for a year."

Reed said the program recently completed a fundraiser that brought in close to $13,000 in pledges and contributions that will help fund it over the next five years. The program, which has one full-time and a part-time employee, is free to children between the ages of 5 and 17.

Big Brothers Big Sisters also receives donations during the year from Chilliest and community sponsors, as well as events. That includes Bowl for Kids' Sake, scheduled for Sept. 10, which has been the program's largest annual fundraiser going back a decade.

Reed said anyone can sign up to bowl, form teams, sponsor a lane, volunteer to work or donate raffle items.

Write a check, save a life

Sue Ellen Davis, a former board member of the organization, said other commitments prevent her from being a Big Sister. However, she said, she recognizes the importance of the organization and the impact it has on children's lives so she donates funds to allow other residents to be matched.

"This is such a proven program that I'd rather write my check and change a life," she said.

Davis said the community is full of people looking for opportunities to serve, but many aren't aware Big Brothers Big Sisters has a location in College Station.

Often at-risk kids end up in the cycle of the courts, which puts the cost back on taxpayers. It costs an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 a year to jail a juvenile in Texas.

"We have a whole bunch of at-risk kids in Bryan-College Station that need mentors," she said.

Reed said the process of being a "Big" to a "Little" is professionally supported. The organization offers help for volunteers, tracks numbers to ensure the process is working and evaluates what is effective and what is not. Volunteers also are required to go through several interviews to be a Big, along with at least three background and reference checks.

"We match them on personalities, what their interests are, if they like being outside, if they want to go see movies," she said. "Then we talk to the parent and ask them, 'What does this child need help with?' Then we find a mentor to help them succeed in that part of their life. There's a lot of thought that goes into the background before they meet each other."

Volunteers are required to serve at least a year, she said, adding their average match is two years. Many have been together five years, she said.

"It's a big commitment and we do look for stability, not only because a lot of these kids don't have that at home but we want to make sure they build a relationship and they go deeper than just hanging out," she said.

Balancing life

Brooke Harrington, 32, said volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters is a good fit because it's something the couple can do together.

"They were really focused on your time spent with kids and not necessarily the monetary thing," she said. "It was a way for us to do things that as an adult, you don't do those things you do as a kid. It just brought out another side of us."

She said it takes commitment to participate in the program. The couple spent time with Willie almost every week the first year, and every two weeks the second. She said she feels like she's learned a lot about herself through mentoring.

"There's a lot of things that cost a lot of money that kids can do. It really has shown us it doesn't take money to have a good time. There are a lot of activities that don't cost a lot of money. Kids want your time. Things will come and go," she said.

Andy Harrington said Willie has come a long way already in their two years together, including beginning to look people in the eye and shake hands upon meeting. He said growing up without a dad compelled him to volunteer for the program. Two baseball coaches he had were phenomenal influences, and he felt like he owed it to them to do the same for someone else.

"It took me a while to feel like I was really getting through to [Willie]," he said. "Like anything in life, you put some time and effort into it, and you see some benefits. In his life, like anything else, helping somebody else out is a lot more satisfying."

HOW TO HELP

* Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Brazos Valley fundraiser

* Bowl for Kids' Sake on Sept. 10, the nonprofit agency's largest campaign, needs volunteers, sponsors and teams.

* Sign up at http://www.bigmentor.org/index.php/brazos or call (979) 268-5814.