This is a perfect venue for the following article. It's something that I wrote as part of a job-interview requirement.FULFILLING! FEELS GREAT!
There’s nothing cooler than being a Big Brother or Big Sister.
by Richard Graham
Drive north from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport toward downtown Reno and you’ll see it -- a large billboard with the words “Little Moments. Big Magic.” The sign advertises Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno, a program that currently matches local children with “Bigs” in the service area of Reno, Sparks and the north valleys.
According to Pat Fling, the organization’s president and CEO, Reno was the biggest metro area without a program before Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno opened four-and-a-half years ago.
“The area is very receptive,” Fling said. “Last calendar year, we matched 480 children with ‘Bigs’; this year, we currently have 393 matches. The kids are bright, funny, energetic, curious and full of promise. Because of family circumstances, they’re at risk, through no fault of their own.”
Deaon Clausell, 27, Reno’s 2005 Big Brother of the Year, works for International Game Technology as a software developer in the information systems department. A proud graduate of UNR, Clausell said he had always thought about joining the program, but never got around to it.
“When a friend of mine went through the short process to become a Big Brother, I finally decided to take 10 minutes and fill out the application,” Clausell said. “A month later, I met my Little Brother.”
Clausell has been a Big Brother to Brandon, a 10-year-old fifth grader, for the past two-and-a-half years, Clausell says being a mentor to Brandon (aka “B-Man”), is very fulfilling.
“With work and life, sometimes we forget about taking time to slow down and just have a little fun,” Clausell said. “Being a Big Brother also allows me to know the new hip lingo,” he added with a grin.
“We both like to play video games, and it’s also a lot of fun when the weather is good to get outside and play some sports like basketball, football and Frisbee,” Clausell said. “We've even taken our bikes along the Truckee River bike trail. We have gotten some free tickets to various events in Reno. There are also a lot of places that give discounts in town to Big Brothers, like Red Robin and the YMCA.”
Locals of note who are or have been Big Brothers or Big Sisters include Mike Reed, dean of the school of business at UNR; Channel 2 morning anchor Bill Frankmore; and 2005 Big Sister of the Year Marian Lanius, who is a vice president of the Private Client Group at U.S. Bank in Reno.
According to Reed, “It is a superb program; it gives the grownups a chance to interact with younger people, and it gives kids a chance to see possibility” of different careers and adult life.
“We are part of the school-based program,” Reed said. “We do homework or whatever, one hour a week before school. On weekends, we go for lunch or to a movie, play miniature golf, or ride go carts.”
“It’s not a very big investment of time, but one hour, once a week, makes a huge difference,” said Pat Fling. “Kids with a ‘Big’ improve in their academic performance, improve in relationships with teachers, other adults and their peers, Having a ‘Big’ strengthens their resilience, and they become more able to resist alcohol, drugs and teen pregnancy.”
So, if you feel like hiking the hills of Reno, cycling along the Truckee River, or just kickin’ it at home, do it with a special friend. Consider being a Big Brother or Big Sister of Reno.
For more information, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno, 495 Apple St # 104, Reno, NV 89502, www.bbbsnn.org, (775) 352-3202.
There’s nothing cooler than being a Big Brother or Big Sister.
by Richard Graham
Drive north from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport toward downtown Reno and you’ll see it -- a large billboard with the words “Little Moments. Big Magic.” The sign advertises Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno, a program that currently matches local children with “Bigs” in the service area of Reno, Sparks and the north valleys.
According to Pat Fling, the organization’s president and CEO, Reno was the biggest metro area without a program before Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno opened four-and-a-half years ago.
“The area is very receptive,” Fling said. “Last calendar year, we matched 480 children with ‘Bigs’; this year, we currently have 393 matches. The kids are bright, funny, energetic, curious and full of promise. Because of family circumstances, they’re at risk, through no fault of their own.”
Deaon Clausell, 27, Reno’s 2005 Big Brother of the Year, works for International Game Technology as a software developer in the information systems department. A proud graduate of UNR, Clausell said he had always thought about joining the program, but never got around to it.
“When a friend of mine went through the short process to become a Big Brother, I finally decided to take 10 minutes and fill out the application,” Clausell said. “A month later, I met my Little Brother.”
Clausell has been a Big Brother to Brandon, a 10-year-old fifth grader, for the past two-and-a-half years, Clausell says being a mentor to Brandon (aka “B-Man”), is very fulfilling.
“With work and life, sometimes we forget about taking time to slow down and just have a little fun,” Clausell said. “Being a Big Brother also allows me to know the new hip lingo,” he added with a grin.
“We both like to play video games, and it’s also a lot of fun when the weather is good to get outside and play some sports like basketball, football and Frisbee,” Clausell said. “We've even taken our bikes along the Truckee River bike trail. We have gotten some free tickets to various events in Reno. There are also a lot of places that give discounts in town to Big Brothers, like Red Robin and the YMCA.”
Locals of note who are or have been Big Brothers or Big Sisters include Mike Reed, dean of the school of business at UNR; Channel 2 morning anchor Bill Frankmore; and 2005 Big Sister of the Year Marian Lanius, who is a vice president of the Private Client Group at U.S. Bank in Reno.
According to Reed, “It is a superb program; it gives the grownups a chance to interact with younger people, and it gives kids a chance to see possibility” of different careers and adult life.
“We are part of the school-based program,” Reed said. “We do homework or whatever, one hour a week before school. On weekends, we go for lunch or to a movie, play miniature golf, or ride go carts.”
“It’s not a very big investment of time, but one hour, once a week, makes a huge difference,” said Pat Fling. “Kids with a ‘Big’ improve in their academic performance, improve in relationships with teachers, other adults and their peers, Having a ‘Big’ strengthens their resilience, and they become more able to resist alcohol, drugs and teen pregnancy.”
So, if you feel like hiking the hills of Reno, cycling along the Truckee River, or just kickin’ it at home, do it with a special friend. Consider being a Big Brother or Big Sister of Reno.
For more information, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno, 495 Apple St # 104, Reno, NV 89502, www.bbbsnn.org, (775) 352-3202.
