Big Sister 2011 Annual Report - Big Sister Association of Greater ...

Dear Big Sister Community,
In my four years as Superintendent we have strived to make Boston Public Schools the best
institutions of learning that they can be. As school leaders, it is our responsibility to do everything we can to
motivate, inspire and prepare our students for the world beyond our walls, but we know we cannot
do this work on our own. We depend on our partners – corporations, non-profit community based
organizations, and individual citizens – to assist us as we serve the students and families of Boston. For
60 years Big Sister Association of Greater Boston has been one of our proudest partners in helping
prepare our students for life outside the classroom.
Here is what we know: a young woman who has a relationship with a Big Sister is half as likely to use
illegal drugs as one who does not. She is one third less likely to skip class, one third less likely to
hit someone, and the chances that she will stay in school nearly double. All of this leads to a more
productive student and a more active citizenry. Simply put, the future is brighter for our young girls
because of the work Big Sisters are doing.
Indeed, this is what is at the very core of the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston’s mission: to make
a direct difference in the life of a young woman, at a moment in her life when a positive role model can
do the most good.
As you read this annual report, I hope it provides you with the opportunity to reflect on the
contributions the organization has made in the past year and to think about how you can once again
help support this critical agenda in the year ahead. This work is not easy and it is not glamorous but it is
vital to the success of the girls being mentored, to the future of our city, our state and our nation.
Carol R. Johnson
Superintendent, Boston Public Schools
Big Sister Association of Greater Boston 2010 Annual Report 5