Our group is a key partner in sixth-grade mentoring project

I would like to congratulate and thank the Post-Gazette on its June 9 editorial "Be a Mentor." As the chief executive officers of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, I was pleased to see such a positive message in your paper. While your editorial did accurately mention that the "Be a 6th Grade Mentor" project is modeled loosely after Big Brothers Big Sisters, your readers should know that our organization is a key partner in this collaborative effort to provide one-to-one matches between mentors and sixth-grade students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

In 2009, we served more than 1,000 children most in need in our community. Through this program, we look forward to serving hundreds more. In light of the recent announcement that Pittsburgh is again ranked as the "Most Livable City in America," it is vital that we all strive to make our region the most enriching place possible for all of our youth through mentoring programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters and the new mentoring initiative for sixth-graders are calling upon volunteers to step up and make a big difference in the lives of our future leaders.

JAN S. GLICK
CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters
East Liberty