1Recognizing the month of January 2014 as "Big Brothers Big
2Sisters Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nonprofit organization
4which establishes mentoring relationships to bring caring adults
5into the lives of underserved and vulnerable children and
6youths; and

7WHEREAS, Children and youths who live in an area with a high
8poverty rate or high incidence of juvenile arrests, come from a
9single-parent household, are impacted by homelessness or
10familial incarceration or attend a struggling school are often
11at risk for academic or social failure; and

12WHEREAS, Experienced persons serving as advisors, motivators
13and friends can diminish risk factors, enhance protective

1factors and make a lasting impact on the lives of younger
2persons; and

3WHEREAS, Working through a network of donors, partners,
4family members, volunteers and advocates, Big Brothers Big
5Sisters supports and enriches the life of each participant while
6promoting and reinforcing positive activities, behaviors and
7attitudes in our communities; and

8WHEREAS, Children and youths who participate in Big Brothers
9Big Sisters perform better in school and develop better
10relationships with their families and peers; and

11WHEREAS, Children and youths facing adverse or challenging
12circumstances particularly benefit from strong, enduring,
13professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships; and

14WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern
15Pennsylvania makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult
16volunteers (Bigs) and young people (Littles) throughout Chester,
17Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties; and

18WHEREAS, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern
19Pennsylvania, partnering with parents or guardians and community
20volunteers, makes and supports nearly 3,000 mentoring matches
21each year; and

22WHEREAS, An estimated 120,000 underserved children in
23Southeastern Pennsylvania remain at risk for social or academic
24failure; and

25WHEREAS, Under the leadership of chief executive officer
26Marcus Allen, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern
27Pennsylvania is committed to providing academic, employment,
28housing and family support services as needed to address the
29personal challenges and higher aspirations of children and
30youths throughout the region; therefore be it

1RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
2month of January 2014 as "Big Brothers Big Sisters Month" in
3Pennsylvania.