By Practice Manager, Cody Gehman, CPA
For more than 30 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (CAPBIGS) has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life.
CAPBIGS’s mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth by partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community to be accountable for each child in the program achieving higher aspirations, greater confidence, education success, avoidance of risky behaviors and overall better relationships. The program has come with tremendous success, supporting over 700 children annually. Research has shown that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. By participating in these programs, Little Brothers and Sisters are:
– More confident in their schoolwork performance
– Able to get along better with their families
– 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
– 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
– 52% less likely to skip school
Here at Stonebridge, we have had the pleasure of being a part of this large mentoring network as “Bigs” and as members of the Board. Just last year, I was introduced to my “Little” and have seen firsthand how dedicated the leadership and staff are toward changing the perspectives and lives of the children who seek mentorship.
Whether you pursue giving back financially or with your time, you will join the mission of positively affecting the children in your community. Looking to learn more about becoming a Big, financially supporting CAPBIGS or even enrolling your young one? More information is here.
Cody is a graduate of Shippensburg University with bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance. He obtained his CPA license in 2016.