We are excited to share another story of growth and impact powered in part by Impact100 South Jersey members and grants!
Impact100 South Jersey funded the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties (BBBS) Mentor2.0 program through a Core Mission grant of $100,000 in 2019 and a general operating grant of $55,500 in 2023. To date, 100 mentees have participated in the Mentor2.0 program. The program offers a great opportunity to make a big impact on a young life with limited in person hours. Mentor2.0 has a robust software component that provides an efficient way to mentor a high school student as they plan for their future and Zoom options for meetings.
Outcomes for the unique and impactful Mentor2.0 program, where college educated, professional mentors connect with high school juniors and seniors in one-to one relationships that meet virtually and in-person, using the iMentor curriculum students revealed the following:
- 100% of surveyed students shared that the relationship with their mentors is especially important to them and they talk more about their post-secondary goals.
- 95% of students shared that their mentor helped them learn how to work towards their career goals.
The 2023 graduated mentees of Mentor 2.0 shared the following details:
- 94% of students were accepted to college.
- 83% of students started at a 4-year institution in Fall 2023.
BBBS continues to follow the graduating seniors during their college years, ensuring that support remains the same through the often-challenging transition. BBBS of Cumberland & Salem Counties has the only iMentor Mentor2.0 program in the state of New Jersey.
For over four decades, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties (BBBS) has been a beacon of hope, providing one-to-one mentoring to the youth in our community. From humble beginnings as an idea discussed around the Novick family’s kitchen table, the organization has evolved into a force for positive change, partnering with school districts, Rowan College South Jersey, Salem Community College, and various corporate and nonprofit entities.
Recognizing the need for expansion and a more centrally-located presence, the organization is thrilled to announce “The Big Move.” With the acquisition and renovation of a new facility located at 60 Landis Avenue, Upper Deerfield Township, Bridgeton, NJ, BBBS aims to pave the way for a brighter future.
Donna Bennett, President & CEO, expressed, “Our new building previously served as medical offices, so we undertook a forward-thinking design and renovations to ready the space for our work today with flexibility for our future.
“We have carefully built a solid foundation, with both finances and staff and now it is time to take the necessary steps to assure that our youth mentoring services will continue to add value to our community for many years to come,” said Paul Perino, Campaign Chair.
Enrollment is open for the Mentor2.0 2024-2025 cohort. Please consider mentoring one of the incoming Juniors as they navigate their journey to college and career. Info Sessions are scheduled for the spring where you can learn about mentoring opportunities.
