Mid-Maine Big Brothers Big Sisters will boost literacy effort with grant

PHOTO: A grant from Unity Foundation will put more literacy materials into the hands of matches throughout Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine seven-county service area in eastern, coastal and central Maine. (Submitted photo)

OAKLAND — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine received a $33,000 grant from the Unity Foundation that will enhance and expand its one-to-one youth mentoring services in Penobscot and northern Waldo counties.
The funding will provide support to its long-standing mentoring programs in the region, and more than triple the capacity to serve an additional 100 children in 2022.

Executive Director of BBBS of Mid-Maine Gwendolyn Hudson said the grant comes at an important time. “Big Brother and Big Sister mentors provide social and emotional development that is needed to help build resilience and support children’s mental health and well-being,” Hudson said. “We are grateful that the Unity Foundation has chosen to stand up with youth during a very critical time.”
Unity Foundation Chair and CEO Larry Sterrs said the partnership with BBBS is consistent with Unity Foundation’s mission of investing in building the capacity of nonprofits that serve Maine. The foundation was started almost 22 years ago by longtime Unity residents Bert and Coral Clifford.
“For decades, the Cliffords used their success in local business to quietly support community nonprofits, generally with an eye toward strengthening organizations so that they could meet their mission,” Sterrs said. “Supporting local youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine’s proven mentoring programs is a perfect fit with the Cliffords’ vision and the foundation’s mission, as we help more kids by providing healthy, supportive relationships. Defending every child’s potential is an important investment in our future.”
Mae Slevinsky, BBBSMM program supervisor, said funding will be used to buy educational materials that support individual learning, problem solving and improved literacy skills. “Bigs play an important role in encouraging reading and language-rich activities that support their Littles in their educational aspirations now, and in the future. Adding new tools to our mentoring programs builds more interest in learning.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine’s mentoring programs pair children, ages 5-14 (Littles), with caring, responsible role models (Bigs) in one-to-one relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth in Kennebec, Androscoggin, Knox and Penobscot counties. The program partners with parents, in conjunction with more than 30 schools and hundreds of volunteers and community partners.
For information, visit www.bbbsmidmaine.org, email info@bbbsmidmaine.org, or call 207-236-BBBS.