Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California seeks local mentors to change young lives

CENTRAL VALLEY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Changing lives 1 mentor astatine a time, that's the ngo of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California.

"The passionateness that we person is for our children. That is wherefore we are calling everyone successful the cardinal vale to delight spot our children, they are the aboriginal leaders and champion concern we could ever bash and have," mentions Diane Phakonekham, President & CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California.

The non-profit offers a holistic attack to affirmative pathways, creating a ripple effect done communities.

There is simply a request statewide.

Thousands of children, mostly boys, are waiting to beryllium paired with idiosyncratic they tin look up to.

"It breaks my heart. I person hundreds of children connected the waitlist, patiently waiting, waiting for idiosyncratic to prime them up, beryllium determination for them, beryllium their person to conscionable emotion them and care, truthful it hurts me," expresses Phakonekham.

Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched the California Men's Service Challenge.

Calling connected 10,000 men to measurement guardant arsenic mentors, coaches and assemblage leaders.

$5 cardinal was committed to assistance usher the way of young children.

"Open our hearts, minds and doors, that we capable our gaps with our antheral mentors and it's needed present much than ever," says 1 Tulare County Board of Supervisor, Eddie Valero.

The interaction of mentorship has been felt successful the lives of thousands of vale residents..

One Fresno Police Officer, Sgt.Erik Ia, has served arsenic a Big Brother to Michael Johnson for six years.

"It's an honor, a privilege to beryllium capable to spell into someone's beingness and mentor them and springiness backmost to the community," mentions Sgt. Ia.

Michael expresses, "I consciousness similar if Erik wasn't present for me, I would've astir apt been with the incorrect radical of friends and went down the incorrect path, a way I wouldn't privation to take."

Now, Big Brother Big Sister of Central California is leaning connected its assemblage to assistance marque a change.

There are presently 140 small brothers and small sisters successful Central California waiting to beryllium paired.

The committedness from a large member oregon large sister is astir 2 hours a month.

The non-profit encourages anyone funny to unpaid to scope retired to their assorted Central Valley locations.

More accusation tin beryllium recovered connected their website, here.

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