Big Brothers Big Sisters an ‘investment’
An investment in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara Falls now will lead to positive impacts in the future for children and the community’s social safety net services, says Jon Braithwaite, the agency’s executive director.
As the non-profit organization prepares for its annual Tim Hortons Bowl For Kids Sake next month, Braithwaite said Big Brothers Big Sisters is changing its focus in terms of its goal this year.
During a delegation to city council Tuesday, he talked about the future of the agency and the preventative impact the organization’s programming has on the city.
“A lot of the necessary social safety net here in Niagara Falls is reactionary in nature, so we’re dealing with homelessness, we’re dealing with families in poverty and … Big Brothers Big Sisters programs, our mentoring programs, (they’re) an investment in the future,” said Braithwaite.
“These chil- dren will be less likely as adults to tax these social safety nets that we have in place. I’m not taking away from the work that they’re doing because they’re necessary, but our programs are an investment.”
He said a “front-end investment” at a “fraction of the cost” can make a difference with children when they’re 10 to 15 years old.
“You’re going to save a lot of money in the long run.”
For this year’s Bowl For Kids Sake fundraiser, scheduled for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at Cataract Bowl on Lundy’s Lane, Braithwaite said the agency will focus more of its public attention on its wait list than on the financial goal.
He said the organization has about 60 children on a wait list to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister.
That number, said Braithwaite, is likely to grow throughout the year as new children become interested in the agency’s programming.
“We’re going to be trying to end the wait for 40 children from our wait list. We want to be able to raise the funds so that 40 kids this year will have a new mentor in 2018. To do that, we’re going to have to raise $40,000. But the message we want out there is that we really need to end the wait for some of these kids.”
Statistics show children and youths involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters are 46 per cent less likely to start using alcohol or drugs, 33 per cent less likely to hit somebody, 17 per cent more likely to be employed, and 63 per cent will receive post-secondary education.
Braithwaite said the organization does not receive ongoing government funding, and relies on community donations and events such as Bowl For Kids Sake.
Braithwaite said this year’s theme for the event is zombies.
“Some of our neighbouring agencies — St. Catharines and south Niagara — are also going with the zombie theme, so it’s kind of exciting, we’re looking forward to seeing what sort of outfits are out there.”
Braithwaite said there’s a different theme every year. Past themes have included Canada 150, rock and roll and Mardi Gras.
During Tuesday evening ’s council meeting, council agreed to form a team for the event.
To register for the Bowl For Kids Sake, call 905-357-5454, ext. 221, or visit bfks.ca.