Our Vision
As participants in the 9th leadership class of Next Level Trainings (VIP 9), part of our transformational curriculum was to create a large-scale community service project for a local non-profit. Our vision was to uplift and bring joy to the lives of children whose parents are incarcerated, by supporting and standing for them, having individualized mentoring relationships and an enriching summer camp experience through Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Ohio..
Our Results
$118,000
Fundraised
2,250
Items Donated
3375 Volunteer Hours
8
Events Held
VIP 10 Columbus proudly supports Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Ohio
The 7.3 million children in America who have an incarcerated parent are facing more difficulties in their lives. They need all of the help they can get to achieve their dreams and succeed in life. These children benefit greatly from having an additional caring adult mentor in their lives. It's what moved Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr. to found the Amachi program on the streets of Philadelphia in 2001.
The idea took flight and evolved into a national Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi program proven to make a difference in the lives of children of incarcerated parents. In 2006, Ohio Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies partnered together to form Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi Ohio. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selected Amachi Ohio as one of the five benchmark programs out of 220 that serve children of incarcerated parents.
In the News
Our Team
OUR TEAM LEADERS
Community Service Project
Brent Harmanis, Captain
Marlene Mills, Captain
Ameenah A. Rahim, Vice Captain
Brian Wollenburg, Captain
Kori Daniels, Vice Captain
Social Media
Angie Bailey, Captain
Elizabeth Servick, Captain
PR/Media
Nick Padilla, Captain
Marketing
Chelsea Means, Captain
Mark Mackey, Co-Captain
Construction
Dino Bailey, Captain
Vision and Benchmarking
Mason Shihab, Captain
Documentary
Laura Staley, Captain
Andrew Kime, Co-Captain
Financial
Liza Sizemore, Captain
Clarity
Megan Badik, Captain
Inspiration
Debbie Ziss, Captain
Colleen McGrady, Co-Captain
Volunteers
Alyssa Kies, Captain
Jeffery Prange, Co-Captain
Fundraising
Elizabeth Hoster, Captain
Satellites
Carmen Jones, Captain
Event Planning
Patrick Anderson, Captain
Mary Ailing, Co-Captain
Event Planning (Entertainment)
Kendall Crane, Captain
Misha Goldenberg, Co-Captain
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
Aaron Hale
Chelee Farrell
Chris Bochkor
Debbie Stohl
Eric Ciferno
Helen Neuman
Jake Casado
Jim Kopasko
Kamila Saydzhanova
Kori Daniels
Lauren Lipa
Lexi Sinclair
Liza Sizemore
Marcus Jacobs
Marcus Paul
Matt Thress
Jacob Kolinko
Olivia Lewis
Paul Goldstein
Rayoun Tarpeh
Rebecca Alben
Sakinah Ali
Josué Vermilyea
Tim Dehart
Tricia Maguire
Zach Heddy
Columbus, OH (WOSU) – Mentors can play a big part in the life of a youth, providing someone for them to look up to and maybe give them another perspective on life. Children of an incarcerated parent face a different set of challenges. And if both parents are incarcerated, the child could face the foster care system. A Columbus-based leadership group is working to raise funds to provide life-long mentors for children of incarcerated parents.