African American Fraternity Leaders Challenge 1,000 Members to Become Big Brothers

Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi continue their commitment to youth through support of Big Brothers Big Sisters
 
Largo, FL, (August 25, 2010)- The nation’s three largest African American fraternities are asking their brothers to lead the movement to put boys on the path to success.  The fraternities’ challenge to each of their brothers?  Become a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters!
 
Leaders from Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi, which collaborated last year as national partners of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the country’s largest donor-supported volunteer mentoring network, sent letters to their fraternity members suggesting that now is the time for change.  They outlined a 2010 goal for at least 1,000 fraternity men to become Big Brothers.
 
Engaging the African American community as a partner and recruiting male mentors is a priority for Big Brothers Big Sisters as children of color, specifically African American boys, disproportionately represent children waiting to be matched with mentors.
 
In a joint letter, distributed electronically to their fellow members, the three national fraternities made this call to action:
 
We have before us, a rare opportunity to demonstrate the unique power of our organizations to make change happen, for real. We are in fact the most significant gathering of Black male leadership available for service to the nation. We are in a meaningful and growing relationship with the best youth mentoring organization in history, Big Brothers Big Sisters.
 
As of March 16, 2010 there are 7,453 young Black boys who have stood up and stated they want a Big Brother.  There are tens of thousands of active Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi men who are capable of answering the call of these vulnerable youth.  Beyond the confines of our membership, we provide leadership in our churches, places of work and communities. Let us now call the entire community to action and once and for all explode the myth that all Black men are “missing in action” when it comes to being engaged where we worship, work and live.
 
Our 2010 goal is impactful and doable: A Minimum of 1,000 Fraternity Men Become Big Brothers. With a win for our community in 2010 we will set ourselves up to do more in 2011 and beyond.
 
The great news is that no one man has to step up for 1,000 boys. We are calling for one man to stand with one youth. As each man engages across our country, we will together bend the long arc of the moral universe toward justice.  Our eventual goal is to find a mentor for every one of those nearly 7,500 kids who are waiting for the right kind of man to emulate. A man like you!
 
We are moving forward brothers. Men are becoming Big Brothers, now. Men are leading on Big Brothers Big Sisters boards, now. Men are building careers at Big Brothers Big Sisters, now. Men are contributing financially to Big Brothers Big Sisters, now. What are you going to do?  You have to do something or we will not realize our collective vision if more men are not stepping up as mentors in focused one-to-one relationships. Gentlemen, the very future of the fraternal system as we currently know it is at risk of becoming irrelevant, if we stand by idly and do nothing.
 
We are the ones to love mankind, achieve and see it through. Brothers let us get this done. Start something big and be a Big Brother!  Getting involved with this historic alliance compliments and does not replace our current programs. Go to MentoringBrothers.org to take action today.
 
In order to be men our boys must see men; Alpha, Kappa and Omega men!
 
Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr.
33rd General President
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
 
Dwayne M. Murray, Esq.
31st Grand Polemarch
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
 
Warren G. Lee, Jr.
38th Grand Basileus
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc
 
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to serve as a partner with these leading fraternities.  Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters is searching for volunteers from all walks of life to mentor a child.  There are more than 1,000 boys in the Tampa Bay area alone hoping to be matched with a Big Brother.  To find out more about Big Brothers Big Sisters in your community and how you can begin to impact the life of a child, visit www.bbbspc.org or call 727-518-8860 
 
About Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Pinellas, Hernando & Citrus Counties
Big Brothers Big Sisters helps vulnerable children beat the odds.  The organization depends on donations to help recruit volunteers and reach more children.  Funding is used to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety; and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is proven to improve children’s odds for succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and breaking negative cycles.  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County serves Pinellas, Hernando, and Citrus Counties. For more information, visit www.bbbspc.org.

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