BBBOS Honors Big Brother and Big Sister of 2015

Cranston – Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State (BBBSOS) selects two volunteer mentors to be recognized as Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year. The volunteers who are chosen have demonstrated a strong commitment to their Little Brother or Sister resulting in the child overcoming obstacles to achieve positive educational success as well as social and emotional improvements. The 2015 recipients of this award are Lauren Conway of Warwick and Russell Frye of East Providence. 

Lauren Conway, Chief Financial Officer for UnitedHealthcare of New England, has been paired with her eleven year old Little Sister Ale for four years. Lauren has been an active advocate for BBBSOS, most recently serving as a panelist at a Mentoring Rally that BBBSOS conducted as part of January’s National Mentoring Month activities. Lauren chairs the BBBSOS Match Activities Committee, which creates opportunities for existing Big Brothers and Sisters and their Little Brothers and Sisters to take part in 2-4 free activities each month that aim to strengthen their relationship. 

Lauren is also spearheading recruitment efforts, sponsored by her employer UnitedHealthcare, to reduce the number of children waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister in Rhode Island. When asked about what it was like at first, being a Big Sister, Lauren said “At first, there wasn’t a lot of conversation and now, it’s hard for Ale and I to stop talking! Just watching her grow and now succeeding at Sophia Academy in Providence, which was something she was apprehensive about, shows how much her world has expanded. She is now celebrating being on the Honor Roll for five quarters.”

When asked what is it like to have a Big Sister Ale said “It was a chance for me to try something new. I get to learn from my struggles, and I know that I have really great opportunities, which I wouldn’t have had before Lauren.”

Russell Frye is a retired Chief Master Sergeant for the United States Air Force and has been matched with his 12 year old Little Brother Jaylon for just over one year. Russell and Jaydon meet every Thursday at Newport Creamery for ice cream and Russell works with Jaylon on that night’s homework and helps him study for any upcoming tests. “I know Jaylon is benefitting from our time together and I am learning things as well. I needed to adapt to ‘new math’. It’s not how I did things while I was in school but we’re learning it together.”

Russell and Jaylon also meet up for weekend visits. Jaylon’s progress during the week determine the pair’s weekend outing. If Jaylon’s test scores weren’t where they need to be, it’s a trip to the library. When Jaylon does well in school and reaches goals, the weekend is spent at the Newman YMCA playing basketball or swimming in the pool.

When Jaylon was asked what having a Big Brother was like he said “I was really shy and often didn’t know how to express myself in certain situations, now I’m much more confident. I notice myself talking more and more to my friends and more to Russell. I’m so lucky to have him in my life, we have so much fun.”

“We are so fortunate to have such amazing volunteers like Lauren and Russell who truly care for the children they mentor,” said Deborah Saunders President and CEO of BBBSOS. “Mentoring has proven benefits for not only the child but for the mentor as well. We are excited to see the mentoring relationship between Lauren and Ale and Russell and Jaylon continue to strengthen in 2015 and beyond.”

More than 200 children between ages 7 and 15 are waiting for mentors in communities throughout Rhode Island. Becoming a mentor simply means being a friend to a child in the community and engaging them in activities that enable the pair to build a bond that ultimately – just by spending time together – gives the child higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors and greater educational success.

To learn more about becoming a mentor to a child in Rhode Island, visit www.BBBSOS.org or call 401.921.2434.