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Mentoring program reaching more children across area
dbachman@observer-reporter.com
The first time Anthony Gianettino took his little brother, Daquawn, on an outing, the two tossed around a baseball.
And that was OK with Daquawn.
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"I started to like him more and more," the youngster said. "I like going out to places and seeing new things."
And that's what Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh is all about.
The national mentoring organization, which will not disclose youngsters' last names for privacy purposes, was founded in 1902. It made its debut in Pittsburgh in 1965, but did not reach Washington or Greene counties until 2000 and 2002, respectively.
According to its Web site, www.BBBS Pittsburgh.org, "A large percentage of the children in the program reside in high-risk environments where substance abuse, criminal involvement, teenage pregnancy, school dropouts and/or dependency on federal assistance are present in the home or in the immediate community."
In Washington and Greene counties, Big Brothers Big Sisters reaches a combined 80 to 90 kids in its community- and site-based programs, doubling in size in just the last year.
"It's hard to quantify a mentoring relationship," said Sara Thomas, program coordinator for Washington and Greene counties. "Kids aren't looking for hip and cool. They're looking for stability and someone who cares, someone they can trust to come back and hang out."
Daquawn has certainly found that in Gianettino, who has enjoyed every aspect of the experience just as much as his little brother. The two have gone to sporting events and the movies, built a robot from Legos and attended a ballet performance of "The Nutcracker."
"He was very quiet and shy the first few times," Gianettino said. "We've each become more comfortable with each other. We've developed a good bond."
The 26-year-old Southpointe resident said he always wanted to be a volunteer, and when he came across the Big Brothers Web site, he thought it presented the perfect opportunity.
That was in January 2007. By April, he and Daquawn were matched up. It's the first brother either has had.
"It is what I expected," Gianettino said. "The thing I get out of it is having a one-on-one relationship. I've really gotten to know him, and it gives you a great sense of satisfaction to be a part of somebody's life."
Daquawn, a student at Washington Middle School, agrees.
"I thought he might be boring until we went out on our first things," he said. "The main thing I wanted was just to try something new, and we can talk about anything."
As required by Big Brothers, the two spend at least three to five hours together twice a month. In February, they also plan to attend a Pittsburgh Penguins game.
Children 6 to 13 years old are eligible to apply for the program. Thomas visits with guidance counselors, and she receives calls from therapists and parents seeking an adult match for their children.
She also conducts in-home interviews to determine if a child is a good fit for the program. Matches are based on age, interest and personalities, and all volunteers are asked for a one-year commitment.
"It's a huge benefit to the kids," Thomas said. "Kids just need somebody to spend time with."
Big Brothers continues to evaluate each relationship through its match support program, which is designed to ensure volunteers are fulfilling their responsibilities and the program is meeting everyone's expectations.
"That's something that distinguishes us from other mentoring organizations," Thomas said. "We've been around for over 100 years. We basically wrote the book on one-on-one mentoring."
The newest component of Big Brothers is its site-based program, which involves partnerships with area school districts. Locally, five schools are involved: Washington middle and elementary, Central Greene elementary and Jefferson-Morgan middle and elementary.
Students from Washington & Jefferson College visit the Washington schools each week and talk with the kids, play games and help with homework. Jefferson-Morgan relies on its high school students to help the younger kids.
The site-based program, Thomas said, has improved self-esteem, produced better grades and developed better interaction among peers.
"We always need kids, and we always need volunteers," Thomas said. "We want to continue to grow and expand."
