The letter below was sent from a single parent in our community. The odds were stacked against her son, but through the power of mentoring her son’s future is looking much brighter! We’re thrilled to share her inspiring letter with you:

I first signed my son up for the Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) program when my son was about eight years old. My son was not doing so well in school. He had been making bad grades, had a few fights, and even stabbed another kid with a pencil during a fight. As a single mom it has been hard raising my two boys alone.

My son was placed onto ADD/ADHD medicine and started having counseling sessions for his behaviors. My kids’ father is in their lives but not nearly like he should be. I’ve been unemployed before and even had to live in not the best neighborhoods and even in a shelter with my kids. The worst feeling in the world is wondering how you will feed your kids or where will we sleep tonight.

I’ve since been working steady and provided my kids with a better life. BBBS brings some consistency into my son’s life and positive influences. My son has since become an honor roll student and has been placed in the advanced program. My son no longer goes to counseling and has been taken off his medication. He now looks forward to hanging out with his Bigs. I prayed for this day to come and I have the Big Brother Big Sisters program to thank!

Research proves that caring volunteers working with students of all ages have the power to help kids boost academic achievement and put young people on track to graduate high school on time. By establishing a system that helps steer local students toward high-quality out-of-school time programs, Metro United Way hopes to provide a stronger educational foundation to help decrease the high school drop-out rate and increase college degrees. Working with partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Metro United Way is helping to ensure more of our children succeed in school and in life!