A small group can have a big impact. Recently, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Western Upper Peninsula earned one of three Pinnacle Awards given out by the national organization.
The award recognizes the team’s efforts to bring programming back to schools and connect young people with mentors. Director Maggie Munch says it was not easy regaining the chapter’s momentum it lost during the COVID pandemic, and even today it’s a tall task her staff are up for.
“I’ve got myself and three part-time program coordinators. And they’re just, they’re dedicated and they’re passionate about our mission,” Munch said. “They see how impactful our programs can be and that just drives them to deliver, to serve more kids and serve them with high quality. And a lot of care goes into the programming that my coordinators deliver.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Western Upper Peninsula maintains two key programs with their in-school mentoring and the community-based mentor program. Close to 300 kids participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs across the region. Another 160 participants are high school students who participate as mentors in an in-school program.
Fundraising has also been a hurdle for many Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters. In the western Upper Peninsula, a Bowl for Kids’ Sake event in the spring is the chapter’s largest single fundraiser. BBBS Western Upper Peninsula also participates in Copper Shores Giving Tuesday event at the end of the year. Combined, the local fundraising efforts support about half of what it takes to operate programs in five Michigan counties and Iron County in Wisconsin.
Munch adds there are plenty of ways the community can support Big Brothers Big Sisters. Becoming a mentor can feel intimidating, but Munch says the largest impact a mentor can have for a child starts with showing up.
Big Brothers Big Sisters expects an influx of “little” applications as schools begin to let out for summer vacation. The community-based program will need just as many, if not more, applications from “bigs.” Learn more about the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Western Upper Peninsula here.
