Big Brothers Big Sisters Honor 'Hermandad' Hispanic Mentoring Program at Nestor Language Academy

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County (BBBS of SDC) honored Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) with an award ceremony held October 16 at Nestor Language Academy Charter School, where the first BBBS Hispanic Mentoring program was established in 2006. 

BBBS of SDC presented a plaque to Nestor Language Academy Charter School to represent Wells Fargo Bank’s donation of $25,000 to provide the school children with the BBBS High School Mentoring program. Wells Fargo Bank’s donation will support the school’s BBBS High School Bigs program, with Southwest High School as its high school partner.

In this program, high school students mentor elementary children during weekly one-on-one sessions, spending time together reading, playing sports, or talking.

Both high school student “Bigs” and elementary student “Littles” benefit from this program, as high school students learn the value of volunteerism and the elementary students are encouraged by someone they truly look up to.

“Wells Fargo is proud to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters to support Nestor Language Academy Charter School’s High School Bigs Program,” said Scott Ripperton, Big Brothers Big Sisters Board Member and Wells Fargo Business Banking Manager.

“Supporting education and educational programs such as the High School Bigs mentorship program are vital to the success of our communities and to the development of today’s youth because they are our future leaders.” 

Last year, Wells Fargo invested $2.5 million in 280 San Diego non-profits, and schools with more than one-third going towards schools and education. In another celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Hermandad Community Mentoring Program enjoyed a night at a Padres Baseball game on September 15, to celebrate together and collectively bring awareness to the impacts of the program for Latino children.

The Hispanic Mentoring Program, locally named “Hermandad,” meaning brotherhood/sisterhood in Spanish, continues to flourish and help children thanks to the dedication of volunteers and contributions from local businesses. But in San Diego County, there are 453 Hispanic Littles still waiting for their Big Brother or Sister. Most of them, 310 to be exact, are Hispanic boys. The needs for volunteers are high throughout San Diego County, but the greatest need is in the Mid-City region, where there are 212 Hispanic waiting Littles (128 boys and 84 girls).

The consistency of an adult meeting one-on-one with a child in a school or community setting has been proven to have a great impact on a child’s life and future. The 2011 Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Report presents the results of the first nationwide survey of youth involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program for one year.

The results show statistically significant improvements in school-related performance, risky behaviors, and socio-emotional competency. Eighty- to ninety-percent of youth maintained an average or above average improvement in these three main categories.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America also celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with the launching of LatinoBigs.org, the first national bilingual website for individual youth mentoring.

In turn, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County hopes to utilize this exposure to encourage potential bilingual, Spanish-speaking Bigs to volunteer and make a difference in the local Hispanic Mentoring Program.

–Wells Fargo