More Mentors Needed in Seattle Area

The summer is going to be jam-packed with fun activities for the children and adults involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound programs.
The group has more than a dozen events planned in the King County area for their "Bigs" (volunteer adult mentors) and "Littles" (mentored children) over the next three months.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound partners with actively involved community members to match caring adults with children, both of whom benefit from one-to-one mentoring programs. They serve 2,500 children in King, Pierce, Jefferson, Kitsap and Clallam Counties.
This summer, activities have been kicked up a notch with the introduction of MoveBIG!, a new program aimed at engaging Bigs and Littles in movement-based activities, like playing sports.
MoveBIG! offers the same successful, proven mentoring program, while making it easier to become involved. Matches (Big and Little pairs) in the MoveBIG! program meet twice a month for a minimum of six months, and engage in preplanned activities, such as playing kickball at a local field or going on adventures like hiking and white water rafting or attending Mariners games. All you have to do is show up, have fun, and MoveBIG!
Christi Robinson, and her Little Brother, Frankie, participate in the MoveBIG! program together.
"I joined MoveBIG! because it offers the opportunity to share with my Little Brother some of the activities I enjoyed as a child and the benefits they brought, like teamwork, leadership skills, exercise," she said.
"Frankie is excited about the program because he has a chance to enjoy activities that he would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience," Robinson said. The two recently attended a Seattle Sounders soccer game.
The game was the first professional sports match that Frankie attended. The pair enjoyed themselves so much that they have signed up to play in an upcoming soccer match organized by Big Brothers Big Sisters.
MoveBIG! officially kicks off on Saturday, July 19 at 12:30 p.m., with a flag football game at Franklin High School in Seattle. Honorary referee is Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound is looking for more volunteers. The group currently has a long waitlist of children who could use the extra guidance of an adult mentor in the following areas: central Seattle and the Eastside, south King County and throughout Pierce County. Their greatest need is always Big Brothers.
Volunteers commit to spending a few hours a month.
The group is also in need of Little Brothers in central Seattle and on the Eastside and for Little Sisters in all areas, but specifically in central Seattle and on the Eastside, as well. Children ages 7-16 (or as young as 4 if they have an incarcerated parent) who could benefit from having a positive, adult role-model in their lives, are welcome to apply.
For more information about the programs, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.bbbs.org/pugetsound.