COM
345
Presentation
speech
September 15,
2003
Good afternoon and welcome to the annual Big Buddy picnic! I am Kate Speer and I am the case manager of Big Buddy. Big Buddy has been building mentoring friendships between adults and children in the Wilmington community since 1973. Over the last 30 years there have been 1500 children mentored. Our mission statement says that out goal is to find adults who can serve as reliable, trusting friends to boys and girls who are in need of a positive role model. I feel that we are very fortunate to have such wonderful volunteers who have helped to touch the children’s lives.
Today we are here to celebrate the success of the Big Buddy program and to honor our Big Buddy of the year. There are five promises that this program has set out. They are: 1) to find caring adults for the children, 2) to find safe places for the children, 3) to give the children a healthy start, 4) to help them get marketable skills that will benefit them in the world, and last to give to adults and the children an opportunity to serve the community and each other. Through the past year we have had many chances as a group to meet and have some fun. Going to the skating rink, the Hammerheads soccer camp and the Walk-a-thon to just name a few. Aside from these events, the mentors are responsible to meet with the children and to help them and guide them through everyday trials and tribulations. From meeting the children at school to share lunch with them to helping them with their homework to taking the child to the movies for a fun night out, there are many ways to make a difference in their lives.
We are so lucky to have a wonderful group of mentors who make sure to play an active part in the child’s life. We do, however, have one volunteer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Sally Smith has demonstrated the values that this organization was built upon. She has learned to empathize with her little buddy and they have grown to become wonderful friends. She has taken her buddy to many different activities such as: the Battleship to teach her about the history of the ship, downtown on the Ghost Tour for Halloween of last year so that they could learn the ghost stories of Wilmington and they have also gone to many UNCW sporting events such as soccer and basketball games, to just name a few. Not only have they done many fun activities but she has also helped her little buddy, Karen, bring up her grades in school and Karen is now on the honor role and participating in clubs and sports. Sally has also taught Karen about the importance of helping others. One Sunday a month they help in the homeless shelter. Sally has truly made a difference in Karen’s life and has been an exemplary volunteer and has represented Big Buddy very well in the community.
I would like to present Sally Smith with this plaque stating that she is the 2003 Big Buddy Volunteer of the Year. She will also receive a gift certificate to Chili’s so that she and Karen can go out to eat, as well as, a gift certificate to the movie theatre so that they can go enjoy a movie. We would like to thank you Sally for all that you do and for the difference you have made in Karen’s life. Congratulations Sally!
I would also like to thank all of the volunteers that we have in this program. Without you this organization would not be possible. You have all made such a difference in you little buddies’ lives and they will never forget you for the contribution that you have made to them. You have all proven that there are people out there that can help guide and teach the youth by the experiences that you have had in your lives. Not only have you made a difference in their lives but the little buddies have also made a difference in your lives. Thank you for all that you do! You are all truly heroes!