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Young People with Mentors are: 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs 27% less likely to begin using alcohol 53% less likely to skip school 37% less likely to skip a class more confident of their performance in school work less likely to hit someone more likely to get along better with their families Big Brothers Big Sisters of America 1995 impact study

Mentoring Matters is a BellSouth program that brings together corporate volunteers as mentors with youth in the community for long- or short-term opportunities. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) acts as a liaison with schools and corporations such as BellSouth to skillfully match students and employees.

The program began in 1991 when BellSouth partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta to launch a mentoring program at Campbell Elementary School. By 1997, more than 100 BellSouth employees jumped in and contributed more than 5,000 volunteer hours. BellSouth is now working to extend Mentoring Matters throughout its nine-state region. The main goals of the program are to help students and youth handle problems in school and in life; build self-esteem; and develop the attributes necessary to be successful members of the future workforce. Main activities include an annual retreat and a recent enhancement to the existing program called telementoring, an electronic version of mentoring.

Employees participate in the program by interacting and communicating with students in person, by telephone and/or via written communication including e-mail. Employees may be matched one-to-one, two-to-one or group-to-one depending upon the flexibility of the volunteer and the need of the school or organization. Those who cannot commit to a long- or short-term mentoring relationship with a student can take on the role of a mentor supporter. A mentor supporter helps plan activities and supports the program with his or her expertise, knowledge and skills.

Schools provide a liaison to support and help guide the program to best meet the needs of the students. The school liaison identifies students that may benefit the most from a mentoring relationship. They also work with the mentor to develop activities to support each student's work in the classroom. Activities may focus on specific subjects or on social skills and interaction. The school also provides information needed to evaluate the student's progress and the effectiveness of the program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) provides support services such as training and interactive workshops, volunteer recruitment and screening, and administrative support and follow-up. The organization also serves in a consulting capacity, providing professional staff supervision and organizing retreats and group activities. Each program is assigned a liaison that works with the corporation and school to ensure a successful program. BBBS can support all aspects of the program or provide assistance in specific areas of expertise.

To the corporation:

• Assists students and youth in becoming productive citizens and vital members of the future work force.
• Enhances employees' interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Positions company to be recognized as a good corporate citizen.
• Improves employee morale; heightens employee perception of the company.

To the Students and Youth:

• Provides students with extra help and attention with schoolwork.
• Gives students an additional caring adult in their lives.
• Enables students to develop relationships with additional positive role models.
• Introduces students to career opportunities.

To the School:

• Provides caring volunteers to assist students with tutoring and personal consultation.
• Allows school staff access to business resources, experience and skills.
• Exposes school personnel to career options in the business world enabling them to better provide career counseling to students.

To the Community:

• Teaches students good citizenship.
• Builds students' social skills and strengthens peer and family relationships.
• Prepares students to be contributing members of society.
• Strengthens corporate community partnerships.

BellSouth continues its long-term commitment to education by offering the template for this program to other organizations and corporations through Big Brothers Big Sisters. For more information on the BellSouth Mentoring Matters program, please call 404.527.7600.

To volunteer as a tutor, mentor or mentor supporter, click here for an online application. We welcome all applicants — BellSouth employees, as well as others who are not affiliated with BellSouth.