Here’s how Big Brothers Big Sisters and Hopeworks have been able to meet more needs and support more people with the collective funds we awarded each organization.
Our 2019 grantee, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties, continues to recruit Big Brothers and Big Sisters for the first year of their Mentor2.0 program. It is rolling out with 46 students who attend Vineland High School.
The students have a Mentor 2.0 class every Thursday co-taught by a BBBS Mentor 2.0 Program Manager and a Vineland High School teacher. In November, the students started to be matched with their Bigs. Says BBBSCS CEO Donna Bennett, “We have received great support from the school district during this process and everyone involved is excited about the Mentor2.0 program.”
Our 2018 inaugural grantee, Hopeworks, is experiencing growth in all areas. With their expanded space, Hopeworks has increased the types of advanced training, technology programming and academic support for the young men and women it serves.
Executive Director Dan Rhoton shared that the first class of Medical Coders has completed their certifications and Cooper Hospital is now hiring them for $21 per hour. And, since July, over a dozen young people from Hopeworks have secured full-time jobs as GIS Specialists and IT support staff at area employers including American Water and Philadelphia Parking Authority.