Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine receives $10K grant to support program

Big Sister Paige Lilly and her “Little Brother” Hunter Stevens (Contributed photo)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine has received a generous $10,000 grant from the Kay E. Dopp Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. The funding will provide critical social and emotional development needed to help build resilience and promote the mental health and well-being of the children of Maine through one-to-one youth mentoring.

Executive Director of BBBS of Mid-Maine Gwendolyn Hudson said the kindness of the Maine Community Foundation comes at a critical time.

“We are incredibly grateful for Maine Community Foundation’s support. Children have been among the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting their health and mental well-being,” Hudson said. “Providing our one-to-one youth mentoring services is critical now more than ever. This grant will help support the more than 500 youth we currently serve, and will help create, screen, train and support new mentors for the 100 children waiting to be matched with a caring, supportive, positive role model.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine’s long-standing, successful mentoring programs pair children, ages 5-14 (Littles), with caring, responsible role models (Bigs) in one-to-one friendships in seven counties throughout eastern, coastal and central Maine. They partner with parents, in conjunction with over 30 schools and hundreds of volunteers and generous partners in the community, to help children have higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoid risky behaviors and achieve greater educational success.

To enroll a child, become a mentor or support BBBS of Mid-Maine, visit www.bbbsmidmaine.org or call 207.236.BBBS.

The Maine Community Foundation, headquartered in Ellsworth, with additional personnel in Portland, Dover-Foxcroft, Rockport, and Mars Hill, works with donors and other partners to provide strong investments, personalized service, local expertise, and strategic giving to improve the quality of life for all Maine people. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.