Local Mentors Celebrate Week
January 26, 2007, DeRidder Beauregard Daily News (Louisiana)

By JULIE B. ROBINSON

Seven years ago, Jeff Jones of DeRidder was matched to Knicholaus Black by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana.

Today, Knich, a DeRidder High School senior, calls him a “real brother.”

“He's been a real inspiration,” Knich said. “I've been able to look up to him and depend on him.”

Jones, whose son and daughter were grown, contacted BBBS after seeing a booth at a community event and realized he still wanted to “do something with kids” in his spare time.

“It's been fun watching Knich become a nice, polite, fine young man,” Jones said.

Over the years, Jones and Knich have participated in Scouting activities, attended hockey games and races, gone to movies and dinners, completed backyard projects, camped and canoed. Jones has also watched Knich participate in the school's marching band activities.

“I want people to know how easy it is to include somebody in your life, share your life,” Jones said. “And if it can give a little bit of happiness, that's even better.”

He added that providing activities for Knich has given him opportunities he might not have otherwise had.

“I've done some things I might not have normally done by myself - like seeing action movies or canoeing the Ouiska Chitto River,” he said. “I've probably gotten as much or more out of (the match) than Knich.”

For Knich, “being able to hang out and talk to someone” has been his favorite part of having a Big Brother.

Although the last year has been tougher to schedule time together - Knich is involved in the school's Student Council and Interact Club, as well as working, and Jones is busier in his job at Raytheon at Fort Polk - the two still try.

Angela McKnight, Knich's mother, calls the pairing of Jones and Knich “a match made in heaven.”

“There's not enough hours in the day to describe it,” McKnight said. “It's been that wonderful. Jeff came into Knicholaus' life two years after the death of my father. I was a single parent at that time, and my father was the male role figure. I prayed and prayed that God would send somebody. He came in the form of Jeff Jones.”

McKnight says that Jones “has become a part of the family.”

She added that Jones' family, including his wife Maureen and his own children, “have been wonderful.”

“Jeff's father has sent birthday cards to Knich,” McKnight said. “I will never, ever, forget the impact they have had on my son's life.”

In May, Knich will “age out” of BBBS when he turns 18. He has been accepted at Louisiana Tech University, where he hopes to major in pre-med and participate in the marching band.

Knich says he will continue to stay in touch with Jones.

“He's been a good friend and all-around good person,” Knich said.

This month is National Mentoring Month, and DeRidder Mayor Ron Roberts has declared this week “Thank Your Mentor Week.”

The proclamation states that “national research has shown that volunteer mentors can play a powerful role in reducing drug abuse and youth violence while greatly enhancing a young person's prospects for leading a healthy and productive life ... research also shows that the positive relationship instilled by responsible mentors has a direct, measurable and lasting impact, and it is generally recognized that many people become mentors because of the impact of a mentor in their own lives, creating a chain of compassion over the course of generations and awareness of mentoring in its various forms, recruitment of individuals to mentor - especially in programs that have a waiting list of young people - and promotion of the rapid growth of mentoring are vital activities for the future of our children.”

Shirlene Cooper, director of administration for Beauregard and Vernon parishes for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana, wants the public to take this time to think about “somebody (who) has made a difference in our lives ... has pushed us to better ourselves.

“Remember them and thank them.”

Volunteering with BBBS is “an opportunity to pay it forward,” according to Cooper.

She says she is always looking for positive role models “to spend time with and listen to” her clients.

The Lunch Buddies program matches one adult with an elementary school student at Carver or Pine Wood.

The volunteer and child spend time together at lunch twice a month.

The core program matches one adult with one child who commits to spend about eight hours per month for at least one year.

“Our clients just want to do what you're doing,” Cooper said. “You don't really have to make special plans. They just want to spend time together.”

For more information about BBBS of SWLA, call 460-KIDS (5437).