Mentors enjoy working with young people

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March 21, 2010

BY ROSE M. J. HENTON The Commercial-News Sun Mar 21, 2010, 08:43 PM CDT

DANVILLE — Carmalita Phillips, Margaret Norris and Jeannie Ohl not only work together at Iroquois Federal Savings and Loan, they also mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermilion County.

Phillips started when she heard about the opportunity to mentor in her Leadership Tomorrow Class available through Vermilion Advantage. She mentors a boy at Garfield Elementary and a teenage girl at Danville High School through the Young Women Aware Program. Young Women Aware is a collaboration among Provena United Samaritans Medical Center Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Danville District 118.

Phillips said, “It’s an opportunity to talk to kids who have different experiences than myself or my children.”

Working with the teen on Mondays “gives me a feeling that I am needed and wanted,” she added.

Norris followed Phillips’ lead and also mentors a boy at Garfield Elementary and a teen at Young Women Aware.

“My own kids were so involved in school and I found I missed it,” Norris said. “This is a good way to get involved again.”

Norris said, “It is interesting to see how the kids’ minds work. They are neat little people.”

She has noticed at Garfield the boy is so appreciative and wants to read more because she is there.

Ohl mentors a girl at Southview Middle School and another through Young Women Aware. She said for her, “she has a passion to bring a Christ-like walk into a young lady’s life.

“It is a blessing to see other walks of life besides my own and bring more positive encouragement to kids,” Ohl said. “The young ladies in the high school need a strong working, professional base and foundation.”

All three women agree more people should mentor. They are thankful bank president Tom Chamberlain allows them time during the day to leave work and mentor.

“It breaks my heart some girls don’t have a mentor,” Ohl said.

There still are girls at the high school who need more successful women in their lives. It is a pivotal point as they are deciding what they want to be in the future.

“There may be a little fear at the beginning of what to expect,” Norris said, “but I get more out of it than the kids. It is very rewarding and it does not take a lot of time to make a difference. Our presence means something to these kids.”

Phillips agreed and said, “I know I am really making a difference. I look forward to Mondays because I know I will have a break in my day with mentoring.”

Phillips summed it with, “Everyone should be giving back. We talk about how great Vermilion County is — part of that is taking pride in our young people and mentoring them.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters is conducting a fundraiser with the prize being a Pigeon Forge, Tenn., four-night five-day vacation. The drawing will be April 20 and ticket holders don’t have to be present to win. All funds raised go to provide mentoring services like what Phillips, Norris and Ohl are involved in. For information call 446-6601.

Rose M. J. Henton is executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermilion County. The Match is a partnership between the Commercial-News and BBBS of Vermilion County. The Match focuses on a Big Brother or Big Sister match. To find out how you can become a mentor call 446-6601.

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