[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E43]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING BENEFITS OF 
                               MENTORING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2002

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
resolution calling for the establishment of National Mentoring Month.
  I am honored to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of Big 
Brothers Big Sisters of America, the oldest and largest mentoring 
organization in the United States. Big Brothers Big Sisters will 
celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2004. During the past century, Big 
Brothers Big Sisters has provided the foundation for the mentoring 
movement. Today, Big Brothers Big Sisters reaches over 210,000 children 
in over 500 locations in the United States, with the goal of reaching 
one million children by 2010.
  Mentoring is dependent on highly committed volunteers. Volunteers in 
the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and in other high-quality 
mentoring programs across the United States devote many hours each week 
and become role models for children. As the resolution points out, 
research has proven the tremendous contribution that these volunteers 
make in the overall positive development of the children with whom they 
are matched.
  Mentoring changes lives, but it is not an easy service to provide. I 
think it is so important that Congress acknowledge the tremendous 
contribution being made by today's volunteer mentors, and challenge 
everyone to make a difference in the lives of America's children.

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