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June 25, 2007
He is an
engaging boy, close to ten years of age. A ball cap turned back on
his head, he looks straight into the camera. The poster brags on the
young man. He could be the child of any proud father or mother:
James is well
on his way to become a statistic.
One we can be
proud of.
70% less
likely to use drugs.
27% less
likely to start drinking.
52% less
likely to skip class
64% achieve
higher grades.
Celebrating
100 years, Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Donate -
Volunteer
One hundred
years of matching children with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, a lot
has changed since the day they made the first match. Fifty years ago,
when Little Rickie ruled the house on television, and when I jumped
rope with kids on the street, I knew few children growing up in single
parent homes. In most cases, they were children impacted by death of
a parent or, in rare cases, children of divorce.
Today, children
raised by single parents are the norm. And for every child without a
dad, Big Brothers, Big Sisters works hard recruiting men to fill in
the gap.
This is a
Herculean task, recruiting enough Big Brothers and Big Sisters to take
care of the needing children in America. It sets my mind on fire with
questions.
Where are the
men who have fathered these children? And if they didn’t stay around
to be a Big Father, can we expect them to be a Big Brother?
And for the
fathers who have stepped up to the plate to be the fathers they should
be, how many more children can they adopt under their wings before
they are unable to fly for the weight of the burdens we have placed on
them?
The biggest
question of all?
Educators around
the country are working to instill in young people the notion that the
sex that produces children should be saved for the time in their lives
when they will be able and willing to marry. Children born into
families built on the healthy marriages of Big Fathers and Big Mothers
is the most secure way of providing what Big Brothers and Big Sisters
are attempting to give.
In one case, Big
Brothers, Big Sisters is applauded for their generosity and their
efforts to help young boys and girls succeed. They boldly place
posters and billboards and recruit donations and volunteers.
In the other
case, promoting the benefits of marriage which, if successful, results
in Big Fathers and Big Mothers, draws down the wrath of people who
denounce this effort to “force your values on me.” Why?
Why are we
afraid to recruit Big Fathers through education programs that connect
sex, marriage and families as a positive goal? And why do we reject
this education at the same time that we laud Big Brothers for
recruiting men to fill the void created by the breakdown in social
norms for marriage?
Consider the
benefits for James of living with his married parents:
less likely to
use drugs,
less likely to
start drinking,
less likely to
skip class, and
will achieve
higher grades.
Celebrate
this…thousands of years, families founded on fathers married to
mothers. Volunteer your support. James needs you. All children need
you.
Big Brothers,
Big Sisters. Yes. Better still…
Big Fathers, Big
Mothers. Yes!
See Archives
for past editorials.
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