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4FOCUS-JANUARY2013groupprogramsarephysicalactivitybalancedeatingandself-esteem.ThankstoapartnershipwiththeDurhamDistrictSchoolBoardtheseprogramsareheldafterschoolandrunbyvolunteers.Thegenderspeci4cprogramsarefor11to14-year-oldsandparentalpermissionisnecessary.Dependingontheskillsofthevolunteerthegroupmaybedoinganythingfromdramatodrumming.MalloryMcGrathwas21yearsoldandhadjustreturnedhometoPortPerryafteruniversitywhenshenoticedasignattheBigBrothersBigSistersof4cebuild-ingsolicitingvolunteers.Aftergoingonthewebsiteshechosetheoptionofin-schoolmentoringbecauseitwaslessofacommitmentthanbeingaBigSister.MallorywaspairedupwithAlorawhowasnineatthetimeandtheyreallyhititoff.TheyaresoclosethatAloranow13isgoingtobeabridesmaidinMalloryx19swedding.EventhoughMalloryx19sactingcareerhastakenherbacktoTorontoshetextsandSkypeswithAloraallthetimeandtheygettogetherinpersonasmuchastheycan.MalloryisAlorax19sof4cialx1cBigSisterx1dnowandtheyarelikerealsistersshesays.AsaDurhamCollegestudentAlishaBrownwasplacedwithBigBrothersBigSistersandnowshehaspermanentemploymentwiththeagency.Someofthegroupactivitiesshefacilitatedincludedskippingclothespintagandjuggling.ItwasmorethanjustagoodtimeAlishacouldwatchthegirlsintheGOGIRLSprogramexperiencingx1cpositivepersonalgrowth.x1dSheobservedadifferenceinthewaytheycommunicatedandsawthemmakenewfriends.x1cItx19ssoeasytoempowerthemandhelpthemachievex1dAlishacommented.x1cItmakesmehappytomakethemhappy.Itdoesnx19ttakealotoftimeanditmakesahugeimpactonthelifeofeachchild.x1dAthirdnewprogramisbeingaddedsinceCheryljoinedtheorganizationtwoyearsago.BeginninginJanuary2013therewillbeanewpilotprojectinvolvinghighschoolstudentswhowillreceiveco-opcreditsformentoringelemen-taryschoolstudents.Forexamplethementorwillspendonehourdailyduringschooltimedoingaspecialactivitysuchasasportorartwithayoungstudentoneonone.January2013willalsomarkthelaunchofthenewBigBunchFriendshipprogramwhichisintendedtoutilizethepositiveimpactofshortBigBrotherSethGraywithhisLittleBrotherRemyYetman.termmentoringforchildrenwaitingtobematchedinthetraditionalprogram.Anationalprogramitwillfeaturefun-4lledgroupoutingssuchasbowling.x1cThisnewprogramisveryexcitingx1dsaidCherylwhopointedoutthatitbene4tsbothmentorsandmentees.Italso4llsaneedidenti4edinasurveysenttofamilieswhichindicatedthatalargepercentageofyoungerprimaryagedchildrenwereinneedofrolemodels.x1cThegroupprogramsbridgethegapformanychildrenwhodonothaveindividualBigBrothersorBigSisterstherex19sstillaneedformoreoneononematchesx1dCheryladded.Majorfundraiserstakeplaceannuallytosupporttheorganization.BowlingtakesplaceinthespringandthepopularChickenWingandPizzaNightisscheduledforFebru-ary232013.MajorsponsorsincludetheTrilliumFounda-tiontheMinistryofEducationandtheMalloryisAlorax19sofx14cialx1cBigSisterx1dbuttheyaremorelikerealsisters.TheyaresocloseAlorawillbeabridesmaidinMalloryx19swedding.Continuedfrompage3