Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Sunday February 1 2004 — C7 Big Brothers Sisters celebrates a century PHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Copes grew up poor and fatherless in a housing project in South Philadelphia At 12 the rebellious youngster often ditched school and when he did go he lacked focus He badly needed a role model a positive male influence in a life that had none So his mother turned to the city’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program which paired him with Paul Sandler a lawyer then in his mid 30s With Sandler's help and support Copes escaped the projects Now 37 he is happily married and working at a Philadelphia law firm while many of his childhood friends are in prison or strung out on drugs “He’s a wonderful guy a great man who did a lot not only for me ' but for my family” Copes says of his former Big Brother “I said bad things did bad things but he stuck with me through thick and thin I guess Ik really cared about me" Copes’ experience is a common one shared by hundreds of thousands across the nation who have been mentored by h Big Brother or Big Sister Some of their stories will be told by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America which is celebrating its ' 100th annivei&Iry this year with a ' commemorative book and an ambifortious effort to reunite long-lo- st mer “Littles” and “Bigs” The organization based in Philadelphia serves more than ' 200000 youths across the nation each year matching them with older mentors in relationships Bigs and Littles spend at least one hour a week together at-ri- sk one-on-o- ne playing sprats doing homework visiting museums or just talking Bigs often say they get as much out of the relationship as their Lit- - ' ties “It’s universally appealing to have the opportunity to share what you know and open horizons to young people" says Judy Vredenburgh president and chief executive of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America “One hour a week really makes a huge difference in the lives of these children” Statistics back her up An independent study of 939 children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in 1993 found that Littles were 46 percent less likely to use drugs and almost a third less likely to hit someone than their peers They also skipped half as many days of school and had better relationships with their parents Big Brothers Big Sisters arose out of the Progressive Era when muckraking newspapers exposed tions in the nation’s sluriis and n concerned citizens took poor under their wings In 1903 a Cincinnati businessman named IrvinWestheiiper befriended a young boy whom he saw rummaging through the garbage for food and subsequently urged friends to become “big brothers” Jo other ' chij-dre- Referring to aboy about to be jailed Coulter said: “There is only one way to save that youngster and y that is to have some earnest true man volunteer to be his big brother to look after him help him to do right make the little chap feel that there is at least one human being in this" great city who takes a personal interest in him Someone who cares ' whether he lives or dies I call fra a volunteer!” All 39 men in the room raised their hands and the first official Big Brothers chapter was born Big Sisters was started a few years later The organizations merged in 1978 and today there are 470 Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters in all 30 states Vredenburgh hopes to reach 1 mil- lion children a year by 2010 a goal she says is within reach The organization has experienced double-dig- it growth the past three years a function of better recruitment techniques and increased interest among young adults and baby boomers who are now etapty-neste- she says' Big Brothers Big Sisters targets the 47000 schools eligible fra Tide 1 federal aid fra poor children' with referrals coming from parents and guardians counselors principals and teachers The group typically helps the neediest of the needy children whose behavior cries out fra adult attention But there are no income requirements “You might have a situation where there’s stable econom- ics but incredible family dysfunction" Vredenburgh says The organization has launched a year's wrath of centennial events by - needy boys! The following year Ernest Coul- e ter a journalist who helped start the first juvenile court in New York City implored a group of civic and business leaders to do something about the growing number of young criminals most of them poor and many of them fatherless one-tim- APPhoto rs James Copes right reminisces with his former Big Brother Paul Sandler while looking at a photograph of them from approximately 15 years ago The ofganization Big Brothers Big Sisters which is celebrating iis 100th anniversary this year with a commemorative book and an ambitious effort to reunite long-loformer Tittles’ and “Bigs" serves more than 200000 youths across the nation each year matching them with older mentors Philadelphja-base- d st at-ri- inviting former Bigs and Littles to register their names online with the purpose of reuniting alumni who have lost touch (The group’s official anniversary is Dec 4 the date Coulter delivered his stirring speech) Two who don’t need any help reconnecting are Copes and Sandler who have become lifelong friends “I saw him mature tremendously over the years I've seen him develop into a man really” said Sandler how 58 "It's very fulfilling extremely satisfying” ' Copes obviously feels the same way In July Sandler was the best man at his wedding Shoshone Irdil novel by David J Hawkes A N 9 ext spring I want to go back north I want to build a cabin up on the north fork or the Teton river and raise horses” Then looking at Sam and winking Moroni added “And yes Sam you can come with me" He also added “What about your ma? Do you think she would want to come with us?” Her face turning crimson Sarah looked first at Sam then at Moroni “I—well — what are you asking Moroni?” “Aw comic on Ma!” Sam giggled”Dan’t you think MoTOni would be the perfect new pa for me?” Reaching out and taking Sarah’s hand: Moroni said “I’m not very good' at this romantic stuff but' Sarah will you marry me?" For a moment Moroni wasn't sure of her reaction Then tears started in her blue eyes Leaning over- Sarah kissed Moroni softly “Yes Moroni I - Will'' Moroni Was up and packing before fust light The skies were clear and the air was bitter cold ' “At least we don’t have to cross the river” Sarah cpm- mented “I’ve' had enough winter ri ver crossings to last a lifetime” Tightening- - the cinches on both saddles Moroni grinned “A warm bed tonight?” T hope so" Sarah righed Then helping Sam up in the saddle of the appaloosa she tucked the buffalo robe around him There are you warm enough Samuel?”- ' “I’ll be fine” came the muffled reply from within the robe2 Moroni led out Walking for now He planned on walking until it became necessary to ride Hopefully that wouldn’t happen but with so many Indians in the area a mad race for safety was not all that unlikely A strip of dried venison served as breakfast as he led Sarah and Sam up the same ridge he had traveled the pre vious afternoon Winding his he thought to himself Then stepping back to the grulla he pulled the Henry from the saddle boot Pushing through the last of the screen of junipers Moroni- looked right into the startled faces of six Shoshone warriors' - Surprised he could only Stare for a moment — as could the Indians' Dropping the lead rope of the gratia Moroni lifted his hand and called out “Hello friends!” In response two of the war- riors put arrows to their bows whilo third cocked a smoothbore trade musket and tried to point it at him The warlike motions of the warriors stirred Moroni to action Dropping to a knee he whipped the rifle to SyTihtQinialwminiMfaii KM lint 435753-190- Whdndby 0 V : his shoulder snapped a shot at the warrior with the musket then without pause leveled shot after shot into the now- panicked Indians No Arrows had followed his nephew Strikes Hard and four other young men on an early mom- ing hunt Leaving before daylight they had ridden their horses upriver in the breaking light Last in the file' of warriors No Arrows hoped that the Utterly cold ride would be worth it A party of hunters had killed several elk in the foothills to the east of the vil lage the day before and Strikes Hard being bored got several of the young men of ' the camp tq head out on a hunt Trotting their ponies up out of the river bottoms the young warriors had traveled along the ridge for several miles when one of the young warriors a sometimes reckless warrior named Painted Horse lifted a hand “Wait I hear some- - thing" Stopping warriors listened Shivering iii the cold No Arrows looked around but there was nothing to be seen As of late all the talk in camp was of what would happen when the white soldiers caime Strikes Hard and some of the younger warriors were boasting of how many of the soldiers they would kill mid of the loot they Would get Others were ques tioning the w isdoni of fighting and some were even openly critical of Bear Hunter and the others w ho were doing the raiding and killing What a lot No 'Arrows of nonsense thought The Shoshone were friends of the w hites ' See tomorrow's- Herald Journal for the nest installment of this store' their horses the f UTAH 137 5 230 7 2 CHILDREN $2 yO C'3 B3 AT PT'iFP PETER RAN pq DaNy 40-7:1-0 SU50 (LOGAN ARTtCINEMAI SOMETHING’S GOTIA GIVE DaNy ira-1- 4 MO 3HZ : ' I - TICKETS ON SALE TOMQRROW! 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