News Release:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands(BBBSCC&I),the only one-to-one youth mentoring organization serving Cape Cod and the Islands, today announced a partnership between Hydroid, Inc., a Pocasset-based technology leader in advanced marine robotics, and Peebles Elementary School in Bourne that connects youth (Littles) with Hydroid employees (Bigs) to build one-to-one transformational relationships. There are currently five matches in place as part of the partnership.
First formed in September 2018, the partnership was championed by Valerie Kane-Curtis, Hydroid’s human resources business partner who has been a Big for 30 years. Since the Peebles Elementary School BBBSCC&I program started in 2017, the organization had not been able to successfully match waiting boys with a Big Brother. This partnership provides BBBSCC&I with an opportunity to recruit male volunteers, and since Hydroid came on board, of the five total matches, three have provided boys with male mentors.
Hydroid specializes in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and designs and manufactures state-of-the-art solutions for use in a number of applications including marine research, commercial and defense. Mentoring can be critical to encouraging interest and achievement in STEM, and Bigs matched as part of the program specialize in STEM fields, helping to expose their Littles to career possibilities right on Cape Cod.
“The opportunity to act as mentors to students at Peebles Elementary School directly aligns with Hydroid’s company values,” said Kane-Curtis. “Exposing young people in our community to STEM is something we’re passionate about, and we’re proud that our employees enthusiastically volunteered to join this partnership.”
“There is a growing need for male volunteers on Cape Cod and the Islands to take boys off our waiting list,” said JR Mell, regional director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands. “This partnership between Hydroid and Peebles not only allows us to provide boys with the male mentors they have been waiting for, but also offers Littles an opportunity to learn about STEM opportunities within the Cape Cod community. We are excited to add more matches and watch this partnership grow.”
BBBSCC&I expects the Hydroid-Peebles partnership to add an additional five matches by October.
For more information about BBBSCC&I programs and becoming a Big, please visitwww.CapeBigs.org.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands,a proud member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay family, isthe only one-to-one youth mentoring organization serving Cape Cod and the Islands. Our program is proven to produce several positive long-term and short-term youth development outcomes. Research shows that a match of just one year helps kids stay in school, avoid violent and risky behavior and gain confidence. BBBS currently serves over 350 kids throughout the Cape & Islands.To learn more, visitwww.CapeBigs.org.