By PAUL H. HEINTZ, Reformer Staff

Thursday, January 3
BRATTLEBORO -- Windham County's Big Brothers Big Sisters program scored a huge boost this week with the announcement that it will receive a $235,000 contribution from the federal government.

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., delivered the good news Wednesday morning at the Walnut Street headquarters of Youth Services, which administers the program, and congratulated its staff members and volunteers for their hard work.

"I think most Vermonters are looking for a way that they can make a difference," he said. "I think that's why a lot of us get up and look forward to each day."

Youth Services board member Steven Sayer traveled to Washington, D.C., early last year to lobby Welch and his colleagues, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to help find federal funding for the program -- most of which had dried up over the previous several years.

After that meeting, Welch worked to secure $250,000 for the local Big Brothers Big Sisters program, but initially only succeeded in steering $100,000 into the House Commerce, Justice and Science Committee budget.

However, when that was rolled into the omnibus budget bill late last year, Welch and his Senate colleagues succeeded in earmarking $235,000 for the program.

"I'm just extremely proud that we've been successful -- Sen. Sanders, Sen. Leahy and I -- in returning your tax dollars to Youth Services in Brattleboro, Vermont," he said.

Youth Services executive director Allyson Villars said she was thrilled to learn the funding came through.

"This puts us in the black for the year, which is a big struggle every year," she said.

Program director Jessi Krause said Big Brothers Big Sisters matches between 190 and 230 young people in Windham County with high school students and adults. The program usually costs between $175,000 and $200,000 -- most of which goes to its four staff members.

"We've all been crossing our fingers and holding our breath," Krause said.

Several people involved with the program spoke about its impact on young people in the community, including Rich Hoppe and Art Greenbaum, who both serve as big brothers.

"It's tremendous. It's probably the most rewarding thing I've done from a volunteer standpoint," said Hoppe, who continues to spend time with his "little brother," Henry, who he began mentoring when Henry was 9 and is now a student at the University of Vermont.

"If there's anything more rewarding in life, I haven't seen it."

Greenbaum, who mentors a pair of twins with another adult friend, said the program gives him an opportunity to do things he has not done since he was a kid.

"The experience is very rewarding, and it's not a tremendous financial or time commitment," he said.

Sayer told the group assembled to hear Welch's announcement that, "Nothing has given me more personal satisfaction" than helping to obtain the federal funding.

"I want to tell you, Congressman, you are the uncle who's always welcome at Christmas," he said.

Villars and board president Rick Hashagen also thanked and congratulated the program's four staff members: Krause, school-based case manager Erika Haupt, program assistant Terry Davison, and community-based case manager Hannah Palmiter.

"I think the world of these four young ladies," Hashagen said.

Now that the program's leaders have secured funding for the next fiscal year, they hope to concentrate their efforts on recruiting more community members to volunteer as mentors. According to Krause, Big Brothers Big Sisters has 40 young people on its waiting list and has particular trouble finding men to volunteer.

Those interested in finding out more information can reach Youth Services at 802-257-0361.

Paul Heintz can be reached at pheintz@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 275.