From April 17 through July 26, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida recruited 135 male mentors to volunteer in the lives of local boys.

With a grant from IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ goal was to match at least 100 boys with a Big Brother within 100 days.

The “100 Men in 100 Days” initiative was part of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ overall strategy for keeping children in school and away from drugs and crime.

Lewis Bear III and his "little." Big Brothers Big Sisters recruited 135 men to act as mentors in a 100-day long campaign. Photo credit: BBSS of Northwest Florida.

The majority of the children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters live in single-parent households. Each child’s circumstance is different, but there is one thing they all have in common: The need for a positive adult role model.

CEO Paula Shell expressed her gratitude toward the community for supporting the campaign.

“I have never seen a community rally around a campaign like this with such caring hearts and a willingness to impact the lives of young boys,” said Shell. “Studies have shown that the lack of a male figure in a boy’s life increases the likelihood that he will perform poorly in school or get involved in crime. In addition to providing some guidance in navigating through life, these men will expand their Little’s view of what it means to be a man. Our community will be forever changed.”

To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, visit www.DoALotForALittle.org, call the office at (850) 433-KIDS (5437) or visit 1149 Creighton Road, Suite 1.

Big Brothers Big Sisters served 635 children in the 2014-2015 school year.