'Bigs' are backbone of program
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

TIME TOGETHER- Bill Meyers of Simi Valley enjoys spending time with his "Little Brother," 12yearold Chris Dorton, right, and Chris' friend Ryan Baker, left, at a recent car show in Ventura. Meyers was recently honored as a "Big of the Year" by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County honored several adult and teenage mentors as "Bigs of the Year" at two Camarillo ceremonies recently.

Through several countywide programs, the organization matches an older mentor with a child.

"Volunteers are the backbone of the organization," Executive Director Lynne West said. "The volunteers of the year are chosen because they stood out from . . . a pool of outstanding people."

School-based

mentoring program

For eight years, the Camarillo-based organization has paired up teen mentors with an elementary-age child, asking them to spend one or two hours a week together.

Terri Felix, chief development officer, said that generally speaking the grades and selfesteem of "bigs" and "littles" alike improve, because they motivate each other.

Jessica Wall

This past school year, 350 teenagers spent 6,200 hours mentoring a younger child, Felix said.

Seven teens were recognized for their efforts. Jessica Wall of Newbury Park was one of them.

A high school junior at the time and a member of the water polo team, she spent a couple of afternoons a week before practice with her two "littles," both second-graders at a nearby elementary school.

The three would play games, frolic on playground equipment or just talk.

"I learned how to have fun again," the 16-year-old said. "I love being around little kids. I love playing with them."

Christy Goulet, who was then a senior at Newbury Park High, sang songs and performed skits an afternoon a week with her "little," also a second-grader.

"When I'm there, I forget all about the stresses of school and I get to be a kid- that was really cool," Christy said.

Match specialist Becky Ford said they honored Christy because she showed dedication and gentleness and demonstrates great listening skills.

Christy Goulet

Consistently respectful and patient, and willing to help wherever needed, Jessica earned the love and respect of her "littles" and the school's childcare staff, Ford said.

Community

Bigs of the Year

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County also recognized six of its adult volunteers.

Bill Myers of Simi Valley was noted for his devotion to 12-year-old Chris.

"Bill . . . recognizes that some children are struggling to get by- and his heart goes out to them," Ford said. "He intuitively knows how to connect with children, so he put his gifts of leadership and compassion to use . . . which resulted in bringing blessings to the life of his Little Brother."

Myers, the manager of a plastics brokerage firm in Westlake Village, has no children of his own but nonetheless wanted to have a positive impact on children.

He said for years he mentored neighborhood kids by getting football games together and hosting cooking lessons in his kitchen.

But with most of them having grown up and moved away, he decided to sign on as an official mentor last year.

He and Chris have visited car shows, taken motorcycle and camping trips, often accompanied by Chris' younger brother, friend or Myers's wife, Andi.

"We make them a part of our family," Myers said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County has four mentoring programs that match an adult with a child who has an absent parent. There are programs for children from singleparent families, children in foster care, with a parent in the military who is deployed and another program for children with an incarcerated parent.

For more information on the programs or to become a mentor, visit the organization's website at www.bbsvc.org.