CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Big Brothers Big Sisters of P.E.I. is excited about a grant the organization received from Rogers Communication.
Myron Yates, executive director for BBBS P.E.I., said the non-profit organization received a $25,000 grant that will be used to support its teen mentoring program.
“We raise most of the funds ourselves, so when Rogers called us up and told us about the grant, this is huge news for us,” he said in an interview with The Guardian at the P.E.I. Convention Centre in Charlottetown on Sunday. “It’s not often that happens for us, like never, so it’s been a huge support to us.”
The teen mentoring program matches intermediate and high school student mentors with elementary students.
Mentors go into the schools to spend an hour each week with their mentees where a friendship is established.
“The program is mostly matched with kids who might need a little extra attention,” Yates said. “They might have trouble making friends at school or they may have family issues at home, so we’re giving those kids that attention to make them feel good about themselves, that they’re valuable and that they can achieve more.”
Last year, there were five schools involved with the program. This year, there are currently eight schools participating, and Yates said there are another couple of schools that want to come on board come the New Year.
Thanks to the grant, BBBS P.E.I. will be able to increase the position of mentor screening and training from half time to full-time, he said.
“With the amount of work involved in making those matches, we needed to dedicate someone full time, so now they'll be able to provide that service to the high schools and intermediate schools.”
The grant will also help the organization provide mentor boxes, which includes items such as puzzles, crafts and games and cost about $150 each.
James Rajotte, vice president for provincial and municipal government relations with Rogers Communication, said the company established the Ted Rogers Scholarship Fund as a way to honour the memory of its late founder.
“Ted Rogers was very passionate about education, very passionate about mentorship, so we established the (fund),” he said.
One component of the fund provides scholarships for students attending post-secondary institutions, which was awarded to 150 students this year, he said.
“The second component is to work with outstanding organizations that are doing great work in our communities,” he said, adding 65 grants were given out this year across Canada. “Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization we work with in various regions because we find the work they do so valuable.”
This is the first year for the fund, something Rajotte said the company hopes to continue and develop long-term partnerships.
Rajotte said he encourages any organization involved with education and mentoring to apply for the funding each year.
“It’s one of those things that, as a company, we’re looking at charitable giving, about having the company involved in the community.”
The local branch of BBBS has two main fundraisers each year – Bowl for Kids Sake and the Dream Cottage Campaign, Yates said.
“Those two things keep us going, but this particular grant is a large one for us and makes a huge difference in terms of being able to offer programs.”
