Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters would like the public to know how deeply it’s invested in the Verde Valley.
Situated in the heart of Cottonwood — sharing a complex with the Cottonwood Journal Extra office, in fact — the Verde Valley branch of YBBBS suffered a bit of blow-back when the Cottonwood Boys and Girls Club shut its doors last year. According to YBBBS Marketing and Recruitment Director John McTurk, the two organizations were not associated, yet many in the public assumed they were.
“People thought we went away,” YBBBS Verde Valley and Sedona Director Maggie Fega said, adding that if anything the potential for growth is greater than ever. YBBBS does not receive funds from the national BBBS organization, however, so public awareness is crucial to that growth. “Fundraising is how we survive. We’re constantly raising funds and appreciative of any money that comes in …. We’re also always looking for volunteers.”
Fega called the responsibility in becoming a volunteer — even the most substantial commitment, that of becoming a “Big” to a “Small,” establishing a mentor relationship with a child between the ages of five and 17 — “mostly an emotional commitment.” Bigs often speak of receiving the greater benefit of the commitment, as they see their Smalls blossom over the course of the relationship.
“These are children who have experienced a lot of disappointment,” Fega explained. “And they’re in need of an adult in their lives.”
Match Advisor Jeremia Sunfellow, the most experienced advisor at YBBBS, said that the match between Bigs and Smalls is the most important aspect of creating a productive relationship for Smalls — most of whom are referred from their schools. From there, the commitment for a Big is a minimum of one year, but can extend much longer.
Sunfellow spoke of the longest-running relationship she has seen: 12 years and counting.
“It’s a lifelong match, so it’s a real success story,” Sunfellow said.
Much of the magic in these relationships is due to Sunfellow, fellow match advisor Michelle Bordelon and Enrollment Specialist Josephine Fiamingo, who labor day-in, day-out to guarantee that children in need of mentors have matches within the community. From across the Verde Valley and into Sedona, they seek a diverse population of adults who want to contribute to children’s lives.
“I do a very personal, in-depth interview,” Fiamingo said, adding that she needs to establish a good sense of the volunteer in order to best serve “kids with the odds stacked against them.”
Sunfellow spoke of the current need to find both Bigs and Smalls within the Verde Valley and Sedona, and urged anyone interested — or wanting to register a child — to announce their intentions soon.
The Statistics
There are 47 children waiting for Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters adult mentors in the Verde Valley and Sedona. Twelve are girls and 35 are boys. The average age of the child is 9. Ten of the children have a parent who is, or has been, incarcerated. Nine are being raised by someone other than a birth parent and 24 are being raised by a single mother.
The breakdown of need in each community is as follows:
- 15 children in Camp Verde
- 11 children in Cottonwood
- 11 children in Sedona
- 4 children in Clarkdale
- 3 children in Cornville
- 2 children in Lake Montezuma
- 1 child in Rimrock
According to YBBBS, the organization is in need of Spanish-English bilingual adult mentors.
For more information, call 634-9789 or visit azbigs.org.
