Category: In The Community
Last Day As A Mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters or Barrie And District
As many of you know already, this has been my second year as an In-School Mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie and District. In-School Mentoring has evolved over the years. The satisfaction and sense of purpose I receive in return is insurmountable in many ways. As a business man in the community, giving back my time is a wonderful way to experience being a kid all over again. Here I am with my little guy as our year comes to an end. Saying good by for the summer was very difficult, but both of us look forward to that first week again in September.
If you were thinking of getting involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie and District, I recommend adults who can make this time, to do so. The organization is constantly seeking mature individuals ready to enhance their lives in unimaginable ways. Please feel free to contact me directly if you wish to discuss this and other programs from a hands-on perspective. As well, you will find their web site very informative. Just go to http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/
The Jeff Walters Diamonds Athletic Scholarship Award
Each year, Jeff Walters Diamonds Inc. of Barrie, Ontario is funding a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a Grade 12 High School student in Barrie and surrounding participating High Schools, who best demonstrates outstanding performance and leadership in Amateur Athletics at a local level. The scholarship will go towards funding the post secondary education of the award winner.
Each year, the award will be presented by a guest spokesperson from the Barrie Colts, chosen by Jeff Walters, who has best demonstrated leadership, community involvement and both athletic and academic achievement in his/her career.
How the Winner Will Be Chosen
Each school faculty will be asked to submit one name from their student body whom they feel most worthy of the award. An application form is available on line or can be emailed to you upon request.
Your school is free to utilize whatever process you see fit to select the student from your roster that you feel most deserving of this award. The student, and the staff member/contact selected by your school, are both required to complete information on the application form.
All application forms must be received by Jeff Walters no later than April 15th of the current year.
A selection committee comprised of; Jeff Walters of Jeff Walters Diamonds, Jim Payetta of Blue Sky Business Development Inc., the Barrie Colts spokesperson, and one other individual to be named each year, will review the submissions and make their selection. The selection will be made at the end of April.
The student and the school will be notified of the winning recipient by mid May of each year.
The award will be presented by Jeff Walters and the spokesperson during the graduation ceremony at the winner’s school.
DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION. (PDF 37kb)
The Jeff Walters Diamonds Extra Effort Award
Each year, Jeff Walters Diamonds Ltd presents every participating high school with a $150 scholarship to the graduating grade 12 student who demonstrated putting in the ‘extra effort’ during the school year. Jeff Walters understands that achieving success today requires the ability to go above and beyond what is expected. The student receiving this award has demonstrated their ability to achieve by working extra hard towards their goal. This award can be in the areas of academic achievement, athletic achievement, arts/drama achievement or school/community involvement as voted on by the teaching staff.
The winners name of each school is to be submitted to Jeff Walters no later than April 15th of the current year.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie and District
For those who did not know, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie and District has been creating friendships for over 35 years. From the beginning, they started out providing exclusively one-to-one relationships for Bigs and Littles. Hence the term Big Brother or Big Sister became a common name for those volunteers registered in the program. Things have developed over the years. The widely respected organization now offers a variety of different programs that serve boys and girls in various capacities.
In-School Mentoring is one of these new programs that has evolved over the years. I have been a mentor since 2009. The satisfaction and sense of purpose I receive in return is insurmountable in many ways. As a business man in the community, giving back my time is a wonderful way to experience being a kid all over again.
You see, being a mentor is not about homework or tutoring! It’s everything but. This is a school-based program that is centered on the same idea as their traditional programs; matching volunteers with children (grade 3+) in a one-to-one relationship that focuses on fun and friendship. As a Mentor for my little guy, I spend exactly one hour each week doing a fun activity or two or three. Sometimes we just hang out and talk about stuff. Since the program takes place at the school of the child during the regular school year only (September until June), your time is limited to intense fun and purpose.
I recommend adults who can make this time, to do so. The organization is constantly seeking mature individuals ready to enhance their lives in ways unimaginable. Please feel free to contact me directly if you wish to discuss this and other programs from a hands-on perspective. As well, you will find their web site very informative. Just go to http://www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/
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