NATCA Bookshelf

THE DELEGATE NATCA'S BIENNIAL CONVENTION | APRIL 17-20, 2018 9 For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, BBBS makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles"), ages six through 18, in communities across the country. Through these relationships, BBBS hopes to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. An independent study conducted in 1994 and 1995 by Public/Private Ventures found that after 18 months of spending time with their Bigs, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters, compared to those children not in our program, were 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol, 52 percent less likely to skip school, 37 percent less likely to skip a class, and 33 percent less likely to hit someone. They also found that the Littles were more confident of their performance in schoolwork and getting along better with their families. ICYMI: To learn more about how the NATCA Charitable Foundation has supported BBBS, visit www.natca.org/index.php/insider-articles/2308- natca-charitable-foundation-supports-big-brothers-big-sisters-independence-charter. ✪ BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS Changing Perspectives. Changing Lives. Children's Literacy Initiative (CLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educators with training and coaching in the most effective practices for early literacy instruction for pre-K through third grade. CLI workshops and institutes build teachers' understanding of literacy and the art and science of teaching children how to read and write. CLI strives to create a sustainable, school-wide culture of literacy that introduces students to the joys of reading, writing, and lifelong learning. CLI's goal is to close the gap in literacy achievement between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers in an effort to build a nation where every child has the power of literacy and the opportunity for a lifetime of success. Visit www.cli.org to learn more. ICYMI: To learn more about how the NATCA Charitable Foundation has supported CLI, visit www.natca.org/index.php/insider-articles/2309-natca- charitable-foundation-supports-children-s-literacy-initiative. ✪ CHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVE Reading = Opportunity Rebuilding Together Philadelphia (RTP) is a local, independent affiliate of Rebuilding Together, Inc., the nation's leading nonprofit organization providing critical home repairs, modifications, and improvements for low-income homeowners. The Philadelphia chapter was founded as "Christmas in April of Philadelphia" in 1988. The chapter changed its name to RTP in 2004. RTP's mission is to repair homes, revitalize communities, and rebuild the lives of those in need by providing safe homes and communities for everyone. RTP is completely volunteer-based with nearly 100,000 volunteers who complete approximately 10,000 rebuilding projects annually. Learn more at www.rebuildingphilly.org. ICYMI: To learn more about how the NATCA Charitable Foundation has supported RTP, visit www.natca.org/index.php/insider-articles/2112-natca- charitable-foundation-supports-rebuilding-together-philadelphia. ✪ REBUILDING TOGETHER PHILADELPHIA Together We Transform

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