Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program celebrates 1,000th match

Since its founding in 2003, Penn's Big Brothers Big Sisters program has transformed itself from a fledgling organization to the largest campus-based mentoring program in the nation.

Yesterday afternoon at the St. Francis de Sales elementary school in West Philadelphia, Penn President Amy Gutmann, along with BBBS Chief Executive Officer Marlene Olshan and program supporter Greg Bentley, celebrated the 1,000th match made between Penn students and Littles in the program.

Olshan recognized Penn's involvement and lauded student efforts to make a difference.

"We have one of the premier universities in the world as our partner as well as extraordinary business leaders," she said. "The collaborative effort truly works to make a positive impact on the youth."

BBBS, in a partnership with the Fox Leadership Program, has seen a rise in campus participation from only 30 matches in 2003 to the 450 undergraduates currently involved in the program.

Executor director of the Fox Leadership Program Joe Tierney recognized the ambitious nature of Penn student participation. "Penn students are so motivated to get involved," he noted. "They just say yes."

Currently, Penn's program works with nine different schools and partners with over 550 students in the West Philadelphia area.

"It's fabulous to get this kind of recognition and that so many Penn students out there are getting involved in the program and in the community," said College junior Eileen McKeown.

As the Penn student director for Big Brothers Big Sisters, McKeown works to recruit new students for the partnership.

Prior to her meeting with the powerhouses behind the mentoring program, Gutmann stood in as a temporary Big for the afternoon. She pulled up a chair and helped out one of the Littles with a homework sheet on savings and expenses.

Ayahana, a fourth grader at the elementary school and in her first year with BBBS, raved about her own experiences interacting with Penn students.

"I just love meeting with my Big and can't wait to see her each and every week," she beamed. "Next week, she's teaching me how to play chess."

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