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April 29, 2004 |
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Departments Stories |
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“I
said, ‘What’s an hour of lunch?’
I jumped at the chance,” said Rob. Jim
Scheidler generally is behind the wheel when the van
pulls up outside Reed Smith.
The school-based coordinator for Big Brothers
Big Sisters, Scheidler said relationships in the
school-based program usually end after elementary
school, but Klan spoke up when it came time for
Emilio to move on to middle school last fall.
Several other Bigs moved up with him. “Basically,
I didn’t intend to go into the middle school.
Rob started that,” said Scheidler. The
Bigs play board games, talk and go over school work
with children in a high-traffic common area, so
other students noticed. Although, he initially
feared there would be a stigma attached to
participating among the other children, Scheidler
said the program was quickly accepted, and now there
is a waiting list for Bigs. For
his part, Rob, 34, plans to stick with the program
as long as Emilio does.
He says he doesn’t think he’s done
anything special, aside from being there when he’s
needed. “I
certainly didn’t do anything spectacular, but I
guess a lot of people aren’t that committed,”
said Rob. Emilio
says he wants to continue meeting with Rob, as well.
While shy and generally quite around
strangers, he agreed to a brief telephone interview. “We
play games. We play cards. Yeah, I like it a lot,”
said Emilio, a high- honor student among his peers
in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Reprinted
with permission from the Observer-Reporter,
February 5, 2004, By David Penn, staff writer. Another
Successful School Year
The BBBS School-based mentoring program has had another successful year, expanding to Carnegie Elementary, Carson Middle, Kelly Elementary, and Milliones Middle School this year. With the assistance of Elise James, School-based Coordinator Jim Scheidler has increased the program from 91 active matches last April to 108 matches as of this April .
We are always searching for additional schools that want to partner with BBBS, but we are focusing on schools that have grades K-12 in the same building or on the same campus to avoid transporting Bigs and Littles. Jim
Scheidler can be contacted at 412-363-6100, ext.
238, or via e-mail at jscheidler@bbbspgh.org. Pitt
Offers Scholarship to Bigs
For
additional information about the Tom R. Slone
Scholarship, contact Dean M. Julian, Ed.D., at
412-624-4761 or julian@cgs.pitt.edu
A
new scholarship has been created by Kenny and Claire
Ross for Little Brothers and Little Sisters entering
post-secondary education.
Established in honor of long-time BBBS
advocates Nancy Zappala and Tom Hardiman, this
scholarship will award up to $5,000 to deserving
students who are presently or have been Littles
through our agency.
Students entering their first year of
post-secondary education will be given priority, but
other students may also apply. For more information about the Ross Family Scholarship, contact Wally Jenkins at 412-363-6100, ext. 215, or wjenkins@bbbspgh.org.
When
you think of anniversaries you think CELEBRATION!
Whether you have been together for one, two or 10
years it is an accomplishment that is worthy of
acknowledgement. How did you celebrate with your
Little? Let us know…Did you go to dinner, bake a
cake, have pictures taken, attend a special
event/performance? We would love to hear all the
unique ways in which you marked the occasion. Send
any anniversary stories or ideas to cjones@bbbspgh.org.
We will highlight them in upcoming BBBS E-News
editions!
Let the celebrations continue as we CONGRATULATE all the new school-based matches that have been made since the beginning of the year! Keep us posted on all the fun things you are doing together!
(Please
let us know if we have overlooked any anniversaries
or new matches , and we will include them next
month! )
Now
that the weather is warmer, and everything’s in
bloom, why not take a hike at Schenley Park?
The
Schenley Nature Center leads down to a series of
hiking trails, which extend to the other side of
the park and plunge down into Panther Hollow.
There’s even a small lake under the Panther
Hollow Bridge. After
a hike stop in for snacks at the nature center, or
pack a picnic for Flagstaff Hill. 412-255-8984
Friday,
May 7- STARS OF TOMORROW KART RACING Saturday,
May 8- BEAD-A -THON & PAPERWEIGHTS Thursday,
May 13- CHOH SAHN AFRICAN & CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL |
The
School-based Program utilizes volunteers from high
schools, local colleges, and downtown business firms
to travel to local elementary schools and middle
schools at lunchtime or after school. Downtown
businesses include the Law firms of ReedSmith and
Klett, Rooney, Lieber & Schorling.
We
are excited to announce a special scholarship for
BBBS volunteers.
5989 Penn
Circle South, Pittsburgh, PA 15206-3828
412-363-6100 | http://www.bbbspittsburgh.org/