$2,500 Grant Supports Maui Mentoring Programs

Maui Match: Big Sister Gabrielle and Little Sister Sharlette — at the Kahului Elementary School-Based Mentoring Program — work on their multimedia portraits of each other at an Art-To-Go session. Courtesy photo.

By Maui Now Staff

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui is the recipient of a $2,500 grant from The Walmart Foundation and Maui Walmart Store, that will be used to support two after school mentoring programs at Kahului Elementary School and the Mentor Center.

“We believe that your organization is doing important work to the communities you serve, and we are proud that we are able to support you in your efforts,” said The Walmart Foundation in a press release announcement.

JD Wyatt, director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui said the funds will “help ensure we maintain our high level of program quality and service to the children of Maui in need.”

As part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui’s School-Based Mentoring programs, at-risk children and high-school mentors interact weekly in one hour structured sessions under the supervision of a case manager for the duration of the school year.

Weekly activities are designed to bring each match closer together and create an environment where participants can build upon lessons learned and experiences shared in the previous week.

“These afterschool mentoring programs help at-risk youth overcome challenges by placing positive role models in their lives during a critical time of development and professionally supporting each relationship to guarantee positive outcomes,” the announcement said.