Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts mentors, mentees

At its annual holiday party on Dec. 6, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Oceans State hosted more than 50 mentors and mentees from across Rhode Island at Shiners Imperial Room in Cranston.
Funded in part by Balise Toyota of Warwick and Rhode Island Shriners Charities Trust, the event included an arts and crafts table manned by volunteers Coastway Community Bank.
Children and their mentors enjoyed brunch, played holiday themed games together and took photos with Santa Claus.
“At Balise we feel it’s important to give back to the community,” said Michael O’Connell, general manager of Balise Toyota in Warwick. “The Toyota Dealer Match Program allows us to really ramp up our donation in a more meaningful way. Having participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters Holiday Party last year, I saw first-hand what a difference this makes.”
Keynote speaker, CBS’s Big Brother Season 16 Derrick Levasseur, spoke about his personal struggles growing up in Central Falls and how meeting an encouraging social worker in 5th grade put him on the path to success.
“What you do today will affect the choices you will have in the future; even though you’re young, it starts now,” said Levasseur.
Big Brothers Big Sisters also hosts a Holiday Help program where parents/guardians of children in the program come into the office and select gifts for their children and are also given a gift card to help with the holiday shopping that can be so stressful for families.