INVEST IN POTENTIAL
Youth in Yellowstone County struggle to build resilience and improve their mental health. They need support for their social and emotional development. BBBSYC matches youth in Yellowstone County in one-to-one mentoring relationships with positive adult role models to help them reach their full potential.
With the help of positive role models, youth in our programs are more confident in their abilities at home and at school. They are 46% less likely to begin using illegal substances, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, and 52% less likely to skip school compared to their peers.
Matched for a decade, Blade and Jess have weathered many good times and faced some challenges together. After Jess's mom and dad divorced and his dad was deployed to Afghanistan, Jess's mom decided a Big Brother could be a great male role model for him.
Jess says "things started out slowly in the beginning and we didn't talk much." Now, ten years later, they enjoy golfing, going out to eat, playing video games, and watching movies.
When asked about his favorite memory over the last decade, Blade said, "There are a lot. But in recent memory, when [Jess] was just getting his driver’s license, he drove us to Scheels and took Shiloh. I think it was his first time in a roundabout. Needless to say, it got a little exciting in a few of the roundabouts on the way. We made it there in one piece"
