Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah is celebrating its 30th anniversary by putting out a call for more volunteers.
They've had a party, including a dinner and an awards ceremony. But the adults in attendance who are volunteers known as "bigs" now or who were "littles" (children age 6 to 18 in the program) years ago were mostly interested in celebrating the organization's unique approach to community service: time.
Money contributions are important and vital to the continuing success of BBBS, said spokeswoman Linda Schott. But people giving their precious time, one-on-one, is the organization's foundation and hallmark, she said, noting that those who really give of themselves get just as much and perhaps more in return.
"Most everyone has that person outside their families who made a difference by broadening our horizons and adding support and even a little magic that changed both lives forever," Schott said. "It's still happening, but what we do is not leave that valuable experience up to chance. And in the process, lives get changed forever."
The idea is to bring kids who are having a tough time for various reasons together with adults who can provide some fun activities and perhaps a shoulder to lean on, she said.
Bishop John Wester of the Salt Lake Catholic Diocese, this year's "Big Legacy" award winner, said BBBS is a community- and neighborhood-strengthening act "that gives witness to virtue, compassion, and love. And they do this without being in the limelight, not by being No. 1 themselves, but allowing their little brothers and sisters to be by just being themselves, complete with their failings and their faults."
Former BBBS governing board chairman Gary Doctorman, who has been with the organization since its founding, said the past three decades are just prologue to a promising future, noting that the group has more than once thought it wouldn't stay afloat financially.
He urged the 450 people at the dinner to leverage their enthusiasm by each telling the story of their association with the group to at least 10 other people.
"That totals 4,500 people," he said. "The 'bigs' in the room and those not here today are changing the lives of children one relationship, one match at a time. I am requesting all of you to improve our community one charitable contribution and one conversation at a time."
People wanting to volunteer have basic choices:
• Traditional: Mentors meet two to four times each month for at least an hour and do fun activities together, such as going to the park, walking a dog, arts and crafts, hiking, fishing, studying, whatever is fun for both the "big" and "little."
Children enrolling in the program, which is offered in Salt Lake County, Ogden, Park City, Heber, Midway and St. George, are between the ages of 6 and 18.
• Voices: Serves teen girls and is only open to female volunteers. The girls voluntarily enroll in a life skills class at school to discuss peer pressure, body image and other issues facing teen girls. Volunteers commit to one hour a week doing activities like playing sports, window shopping, talking and simply hanging out.
• School-based: A partnership with local schools where volunteers commit to meet with a child on the school grounds for one hour per week during the school year. Volunteers eat lunch with the child, go to the school library, play on the playground or make arts and crafts projects.
• Other: Those who might not want to work directly with a child can volunteer in several other ways. Particular to the season, upcoming benefit promotions have been scheduled with Fashion Place Mall, The Gateway, Ten Thousand Villages and Noodles & Co., which could use some helping hands.
More information is available at www.bbbsu.org/partners.php.
E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com