Team McGuire members mentor local youth Published Aug. 21, 2007 By Capt. Jess Williams Air Mobility Battlelab member MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Being a mentor is something anyone can do. Thirteen Team McGuire members are reaching out to the community and having fun doing it. These personnel volunteer as "Bigs" for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Burlington County. BBBS is an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, ages 6 through 18, through mentoring programs. Volunteers spend several hours a month mentoring their "Little" through everyday activities such as taking a walk, shooting hoops, playing a board game, or just hanging out and talking. According to the BBBS Web site, spending time with a little doesn't require a special occasion or expensive activities; just a few hours every month sharing simple things you already enjoy with a young person. Senior Airman Robert Mauro, 305th Air Mobility Wing legal claim assistant, became involved as a big when he was "looking for a volunteer opportunity online and came across it. It seemed like something I was interested in, so I pursued it." Airman Mauro has been a BBBS volunteer for 15 months. He has found volunteering with BBBS to be an extremely rewarding experience. "I would absolutely recommend this program to others," Airman Mauro said. "It is a wonderful way of giving back to the community and the joy you get from helping an underprivileged child is amazing." Senior Airman Namir Laureano, 305th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental journeyman, has volunteered as a big for 12 months and said, "BBBS is a very organized program. They take care of the kids by looking for their best match based on the child's qualities, requirements and needs. "In addition, they conduct a background check on all bigs," Airman Laureano said. "They also consider the bigs requests when matching them up with a child. It is worth it! In the end, you and your little brother/sister will have a great friendship, many fun memories and grow together." According to Kate Levin, BBBS Burlington Country Program manager, BBBS is thrilled to have Team McGuire members serving as volunteers. "I can't say enough good things about our military bigs, as they continue to offer a lot to this agency. Military bigs make excellent role models for our littles because they understand the intrinsic importance of hard work and community service. Due to the nature of military work, Fort Dix and McGuire bigs are usually very dependable and disciplined, which are important traits for any big to possess." Mrs. Levin said usually there are no problems with military members becoming bigs and maintaining a busy schedule that may possibly lead to a deployment "At BBBS we ask for a one-year commitment. We'd love it if matches lasted for three, five or seven years, but understand that can't always happen. For a little to have someone in his or her life who expresses care and concern even if only for one year, it can be life saving. Let's face it -- the alternative may be having no one. A handful of our current bigs are serving in Iraq and elsewhere. Nearly all of these matches have stayed together during this time, and bigs and littles communicate via e-mail and letter writing. Even if a big moves away, he or she can keep in touch with their little." "Not only do I recommend military personnel volunteer for BBBS, I hope they do," Mrs. Levin said. "Military bigs are an asset to our agency and the littles they work with, and I think most volunteers find this experience is just as rewarding and educational for them as it is for the little. There are dozens of volunteer opportunities out there, but few are as 'hands on' as this." Since its foundation in 1904, BBBS is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. In 2006, the organization served 242,000 youths nation wide. National research has shown that positive relationships between youth and their big brother and big sister mentors have a direct and measurable impact on children's lives. By participating in youth mentoring programs, little brothers and sisters are more confident in their schoolwork performance, able to get along better with their families, 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol and 52 percent less likely to skip school. For more information, call Kate Levin at (609) 261-4960. More information can also be found on the Internet.