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Hernando Today

Group Believes In Power Of One

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: August 25, 2008

SPRING HILL - Too many boys were coming out of the juvenile system.

The unwelcome pattern of neglected children becoming wayward criminals was commonplace 103 years ago.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City was formed when a judge decided to do something about the number of crime-prone youngsters he was seeing in his courtroom.

The local chapter, which serves Hernando, Pinellas and Citrus counties, aims to "change the dropout epidemic," said Executive Vice President Lara Shane.

More than one-fourth of all men ages 18 to 24 in Hernando County have not earned a high school diploma, according to agency statistics.

"It makes sense to assign a mentor to these kids while they are at school," Shane said.

She discussed the Power of One – how one mentor can have a positive impact on a child.

"Any one adult (can) help change the life of a child and that change is astronomical," she said.

The local chapter is one of the top 35 high-performing agencies in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Network, said Shane. That puts it in the top 10 percent out of more than 400 in the country.

Noticing there was a higher turnout of women volunteers than men, the Sports Buddies program was born.

It provides free tickets to all of Tampa's major sports teams – the Buccaneers, Storm, Rays and Lightning.

With the help of new community outreach manager Patricia Walker, Shane believes the agency will have a higher profile in the local community.

The first goal, which Shane hopes to accomplish in the next five years – is to aide at least 10 percent of the at-risk kids in Hernando, Pinellas and Citrus counties.

That would amount to thousands of improved lives, she said.

To learn more, visit www.bbbspc.org.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5823 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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