HYLA Supports Big Brothers Big Sisters

The time commitment typically needed to be an adult mentor makes many young lawyers or law students shy away from the volunteering in the Big Brothers Big Sisters [BBBS] program, but the “Big for a Day” events hosted by HYLA allow these professionals that exact opportunity – to serve as BBBS mentors. Other than the time needed for a round of putt-putt golf or a cup of tea – there is no other commitment required. 

The premiere “Tea Time with HYLA” and “Tee Time with HYLA” events were memorable for children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of Greater Houston. Fifty children total from their Amachi Texas Mentor Program (ranging in ages 3 to 16) received valuable one-on-one personal attention from forty-eight adult volunteer mentors during the array of activities and games at the two events. The Tea Time included table games and a buffet for the children and mentors. All the children were also treated to a take-home “First Visit” backpack containing items to make visits with a mentor a success, such as a board game and daily planners. Tee Time activities for the mentor-children teams included the putt-putt golf tournament, driving go-karts, and games in the video arcade. The two events were made possible due to funding from the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association and attorney S.J. Swanson. The fifty “First Visit” backpacks were made possible thanks to a grant from the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation.

The Tea Time (February 10, 2008) and Tee Time (March 22, 2008) were hosted by HYLA’s BBBS Big For a Day committee and held respectively at University of Houston Hilton and Zuma Fun Center. Both are examples of events making a difference in the lives of local at-risk youth. The Amachi Texas program specifically provides mentoring for children with one or more incarcerated parents. There is the concern that children of incarcerated parents will at some point follow their parent and be incarcerated themselves, unless they have positive adult intervention. 

Due to the limited number of adult volunteers in BBBS, not every child registered in the Amachi Texas Program in Houston has been assigned a permanent big brother or big sister. There are on average seventy children left unassigned every year due to the low number of registered mentor volunteers. The "Big for a Day" events hosted by HYLA help address this problem. Children in the Amachi Texas program not assigned to long-term mentors are invited to attend Big for a Day events. Most Big-For-a-Day mentors for HYLA are local attorneys, law students, professionals, and judges.