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Andersen Airman serves on Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angelique Smythe
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
A Team Andersen member was recently approved as a member of the Board of Directors for the Guam Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

Maj. Jeffrey Holt, 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, volunteered to serve as the Big Brothers/Big Sisters military liaison for two years, as well as, a voting member on the Board.

He will be involved in the decision-making of budgets, upcoming events, fundraisers and recruiting efforts and strategies to give the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters office the support they need.

"My goal is to spread the word that we do have a program on-island and we always need volunteers," he said. "We're always looking to raise money to keep the program up and running and support as many children as we can."

Anyone can volunteer to be a part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Members of the program go into the schools and read to a group of children, help with homework, or anything else to make a difference in their lives for at least one hour a week. They may also spend one-on-one time with children after school hours.

This isn't the first time Major Holt has been involved in a mentoring program for children. Years ago in high school, he and a group of friends began a program called Big Siblings at a local shelter for abused and neglected children.

"It's still going on today, so I know the great impact mentors can have on children," he said. "The volunteers develop life long relationships with these children. But when I started my program years ago, these children were already there in the shelter for a reason, whereas, in Guam we actually reach out into the community to find children who are in need of help; they have to volunteer. These are children who want a mentor and may not have a big brother or big sister figure in their lives already."

Major Holt said the biggest challenge this school year will be recruitment. With enough volunteers and not enough children to stay with the program, some members of Big Brothers/Big Sisters are waiting to be matched with little brothers or sisters. The goal is to get the message to children, who may need help or may not step forward on their own to get matched up with a mentor, and get them started in the right direction.

"Big Brothers/Big Sisters is a really good program, and it's well supported on Guam," he said. "One big fundraiser they have every year is Bowl for Kids Sake; and this year in September, they raised approximately $14,000."

Major Holt said it is an honor to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Guam Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

"Every community in some form or another depends on the military to help out, and I think it is part of our role as military ambassadors to help out, so I'm honored that they chose me to do it," he said.