“It only takes a little to make a BIG difference.”
Published: January 6, 2025
By: Julianna Steen
January is National Mentoring Month for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization (BBBS), an opportunity to celebrate mentorship and raise awareness of its benefits. The Greater Birmingham chapter, directed by CEO Sue S. Johnson, has been serving children in the Birmingham area for over 50 years. BBBS’s mission is to “create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth so that all youth achieve their full potential.”
Mentorship has proven to leave a profound impact on youth. According to the 2023 Mentor study, 74% of the youth who had a meaningful mentor say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life, and 85% of young people with a mentor say this key relationship has helped them with issues related to school and their education. Furthermore, research shows that mentorship decreases the likelihood of substance abuse and other risky behaviors. The need for mentorship has never been greater for BBBS: Consider how you can invest and support younger generations in our community.
Their motto this month is: “It only takes a little to make a BIG difference.” Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life, donate, or volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters at bbbsbhm.org or by calling (205) 939-5590. To read Mentor’s study, visit mentoring.org.