III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 599 

Recognizing the 100-year anniversary of Big Brothers Big Sisters 

Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 11, 2014 

Mr. TOOMEY (for himself and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 100-year anniversary of Big Brothers Big 

Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Whereas Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania 

is a nonprofit organization that provides children facing 

adversity with strong, enduring, and professionally supported one-to-one mentor relationships; 

Whereas Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania 

serves children who are— 

(1) living in areas with a high poverty rate, areas 

with a high incidence of juvenile arrests, or single-parent 

households; 

(2) impacted by homelessness or familial incarceration; or 

(3) attending a struggling school; 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 599 ATS 

Whereas mentors serving as advisors, role models, or friends 

can diminish risk factors, enhance protective factors, and 

make a lasting impact on the lives of children; 

Whereas Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania 

supports and enriches the lives of children and promotes 

and reinforces positive activities, behaviors, and attitudes 

by working with donors, partners, family members, volunteers, and advocates; 

Whereas the Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania mentor program is proven to help at-risk children 

reach their potential; 

Whereas the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence 

at the University of Colorado classifies the Big Brothers 

Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania mentor program 

as a ‘‘blueprint’’ model intervention program for effectively reducing adolescent violent crime, aggression, delinquency, and substance abuse; 

Whereas ‘‘blueprint’’ programs have the highest standards 

and meet the most rigorous tests of effectiveness and 

replicability in the field of helping at-risk children; 

Whereas children who participate in the Big Brothers Big 

Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania mentor program perform better in school and develop better relationships 

with their families and peers; 

Whereas Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania 

makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers, known as ‘‘Bigs’’, and at-risk children, known as 

‘‘Littles’’, throughout Chester County, Delaware County, 

Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County; 

Whereas Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania 

supports nearly 3,000 mentor matches each year; 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 599 ATS 

Whereas an estimated 250,000 underserved children in southeastern Pennsylvania remain at risk for academic failure; 

and 

Whereas Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania 

is committed to bringing life-changing work to the children in the region who need it the most: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the 100-year 

2 anniversary of Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern 

3 Pennsylvania. 

Æ 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS