There are 10 million children in America who could benefit from interacting with a mentor, said Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) CEO Karen Mathis in a speech Thursday at the Clinton School.
While BBBSA, the largest donor-based volunteer mentor program in the country, serves more than 250,000 of those children, more needs to be done, Mathis said.
Mathis challenged Clinton School students and those in attendance at the lecture to commit to giving back to their communities.
“I want to ask for your commitment to continue to mobilize your energies and passions to do something for your community and your country,” Mathis said.
A career lawyer and recent president of the American Bar Association, Mathis became CEO of BBBSA in 2009. After a distinguished legal career, Mathis called the decision to take the helm of BBBSA “life changing.”
In her lecture titled, “If We Aren’t Careful, Together We Will Do Real Good,” Mathis discussed her life as a public servant, both as a lawyer and advocate for America’s youth.
Mathis was introduced by Clinton School student Todd Moore (’10), who previously served as a case worker for his local Big Brothers Big Sisters office in his home of Kansas.
BBBSA provides support and funding for nearly 400 affiliates, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.
Video of Mathis’ lecture will be posted soon at www.clintonschoolspeakers.com.