Grant Application for
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan
Mission Statement:
Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Tax ID Number:
23-7043163
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Kris
Hoxie
Address:
900 E Front St
Phone Number:
2313130887
Website:
Project Name:
Empowering Female Youth Through Mentorship
Project start and end dates:
June 15, 2025
June 15, 2026
Amount Requested:
$
10000
Project Description:
In the coming year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan (Bigs) aim to connect an addition 25 young women with 25 female volunteer mentors in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties, significantly increasing our previous annual goal to 96, after serving 71 female youth last year.
Our program ensures that every child is paired with a dedicated adult mentor who plays a vital role in their development. These mentors provide consistent support and guidance, helping to inspire and empower our youth to set and achieve goals that unlock their full potential.
Goal of the Project
How many people will you reach?
225
What percentage are female?
65
If your program serves both males and females, how will Hestia funds specifically target women and girls?
At Bigs, we believe in the transformative power of mentorship, particularly for young women and girls who often face unique challenges in their personal and academic lives. With Hestia's generous support, we aim to enhance our targeted outreach and programming for female youth.
Historically, we have matched approximately 65% of our participants with female mentors, thanks to the dedicated female volunteers from our communities. Recognizing the need for focused mentorship, we previously operated with a single Mentoring Specialist serving both Charlevoix and Emmet counties. This limited our ability to connect with more young women effectively. However, we are excited to share that we have recently added a second Mentoring Specialist, with each now focusing exclusively on one county. This strategic enhancement allows us to deepen our reach and create more meaningful matches between female youth and mentors.
We will be offering targeted initiatives designed to empower young girls. including workshops that address issues such as self-esteem, leadership, and career exploration. y fostering an environment where female youth can thrive, we aim to inspire them to pursue their passions and build a brighter future.
How are recipients identified or selected to receive services? Is financial need considered?
Bigs matches children ages six through young adult, referred by parents, teachers, doctors, and school social workers, who could benefit from an encouraging mentor who listens, an introduction to new opportunities, help identifying and developing their skills, and consistent time with a positive, caring adult. Local schools rely on our program to support their students’ academic, social-emotional and behavioral needs. There is no cost for participants of our program.
Though not a requirement for participation, more than 90% of the children in our program are at poverty level. Families in need have access to individualized professional academic tutoring, holiday support, and a connection to a litany of resources and opportunities the Bigs’ program provides to all of its clients.
What do you hope to achieve? What difference will this make in the lives of women and girls?
How will this project meet Hestia's mission statement?
Our Bigs provide critical emotional support to their Littles. Mentoring builds key social and emotional skills youth need to succeed in school and in life. Girls mentored in our program are more likely to form stronger relationships with family and friends, which fosters confidence and improves decision-making skills. They have improved school attendance and academic performance, and better attitude towards life, avoiding risky behaviors and choosing healthy relationships. Children benefit from an overall sense of belonging within a positive community. They become more responsible, more productive and understand the importance of a good education, resulting in their continued education or training, introduction to career opportunities, and breaking the circle of poverty.
Bigs is uniquely positioned to be a timely and resourceful part of the solution for the needs of area youth. In Emmet and Charlevoix counties specifically, we have two Mentoring Specialists dedicated to expanding our programming to reach more children enabling the support of a significant increase in the number of youth served in Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
How will you evaluate or measure your success:
A commitment to ongoing evaluation helps us measure the program’s success. Progress is tracked in the Bigs’ customer relationship management database. Mentoring Specialists assess and document individualized, ongoing match support contacts with the parent/guardian, youth, and mentor on a monthly basis to ensure the safety of all parties involved. In addition, annual survey tools measure the quality of our programs and strength of the mentoring relationships we create. Bigs’ team members document, collect, manage, and report annually on the survey data. The results are utilized to evaluate how we train and coach our volunteers and inform the design of our strategies to meet the overall mentoring goals for the Littles.
Grant Project Budget Form
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