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50 Years Of Big Brothers Big Sisters In Pittsburgh

Big Brothers Big Sisters
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

As a troubled youth growing up in Philadelphia, Kenny Ross had a choice to make: go to juvenile court, or join Big Brothers Big Sisters. He chose the latter, and said being a part of the mentorship organization ended up saving his life.  After moving to Pittsburgh, he realized a need for Big Brothers Big Sisters in the region and opened the Greater Pittsburgh chapter in 1965.

Now, celebrating their 50th anniversary, the Pittsburgh organization serves almost 1500 children in Allegheny, Washington, and Greene County with a mission of providing one-on-one mentoring to children, focusing on improving their lives, staying in school, and becoming a productive part of society.

“The 'big brother big sister', it’s not about being Disney daddy so to speak, it’s not about replacing a parent, but it’s about being a significant part of their life as an adult that can help them make good choices for their future,” explains CEO Jan Glick.

More Essential Pittsburgh segments can be heard here.