Big Brothers Big Sisters: 'Littles' on track for this year's goals

Southeast Missouri's regional youth mentoring organization helps "Littles," as 350 Cape Girardeau and Scott County children are known to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Slowly but steadily, according to the organization's staff, the effect of having a special relationship with a "Big" is helping more children succeed in school.

The Southern Region of Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri in Cape Girardeau continues to report goals are on track for 176 students participating in the ABC Today! initiative, which uses motivational strategies involving adult mentors, teachers, parents and organization staff for improving students' grades and behavior and attendance at school.

The organization checks student progress toward goals each quarter of the school year and uses the assessment at the end of the year for a full measure of improvement. Goals for this school year were to to see 88 percent of children with improvement in attendance, reading and math, and to see 85 percent improve in discipline. At the end of the third quarter, 89 percent hit the mark for attendance, 83.2 percent in discipline, 79 percent for reading and 82 percent for math, said Ashley Beggs, executive director of the Southern Region.

In January, the organization named a community board for the region to develop plans for expanding its mentoring program to more areas of Southeast Missouri as part of a commitment to move from serving 1,300 children to more than 2,000 in the next three years.

The board is in the early stages of planning that expansion, Beggs said, and more developments will come later this year. A pattern of slow and steady growth over the last few years has enabled the organization to refine services and ensure it is growing at a rate that is healthy for children, she said.

Guests socialize before the race at a Kentucky Derby party being held for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri Saturday, May 5. (Adam Vogler)

The organization held a fundraiser Saturday in Cape Girardeau that was expected to provide around 25 percent of its annual budget. The Kentucky Derby party, held this year at the home of Dr. William and Patricia LaFoe at Fox Run Stables near Cape Girardeau, alternates years as a local and St. Louis event. Organizers planned for around 200 people to attend. The Kentucky Derby-themed event features a wine auction and special recognitions of the community's volunteers. All proceeds from the event benefit the organization's programs.

"It's a way to celebrate the people involved, and also to introduce to the community what the organization is doing," Beggs said.

Another fundraising event in March provided $25,000 for the organization.

Other sections of the organization's $420,000 annual budget are contributed by the United Way, various grants and state programs and individual and corporate donations.

It takes around $1,200 per child per year to serve the region's 350 participants. Those funds are used for volunteer recruitment, background checks and other screenings and to pay staff that ensure children are in good relationships with their mentors, Beggs said.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

1610 N. Kingshighway Suite 305, Cape Girardeau, MO

309 Fox Run Lane, Cape Girardeau, MO