Big Brothers Big Sisters enjoys day of service, cookout at Nelson Park

02-May-2011

By KENNETH LOWE - H&R Staff Writer
Original article, May 1, 2011 Herald & Review

DECATUR - For some, it was the culmination of 11 years of hard work and mentoring, and for others it was a chance to enjoy a sunny day and some food after weeks of rain and storms.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Macon County hosted its spring graduation at Nelson Park on Saturday, with help from Comcast. The event was a way to celebrate another year of school gone by and to honor those who had graduated high school and encourage the younger kids to stick with it, community partnership manager Zach Shields said.

"This is a great event every year," Shields said. "It's good to come out and see a company like Comcast support us."

About 250 people attended the lively event, with participants moving a felled tree and cleaning up trash and leaves from Nelson Park's rock garden, eating burgers and hot dogs and hearing from guest speakers that included Decatur School District Assistant Superintendent Lisa Mann and state Rep. Adam Brown, R-Decatur, whose fiancee mentors a young girl through the program.

Brown said his fiancee's mentoring for the program has touched his life, too.

"She shows us the bright side of life," Brown said of his fiancee's "little sister." "Her role in our lives has been so important she's going to be in our wedding ceremony."

Wilson Jackson, stepfather to 10-year-old Danielle, said the program had helped her open up to new activities in and out of school. Since she began it, he said, it's nurtured her creative side.

"Her grades have improved," Jackson said. "They give these kids something to look forward to. They encourage them to go to school."

Shields said Big Brothers Big Sisters is in need of more adults to mentor children, with 97 kids in Macon County on the waiting list to join. He encouraged adults who want to volunteer to call 428-4240 for more information.

"We're always looking to come visit companies and talk about volunteering," Shields said.