Jackie and Aliceya

For 9-year-old Aliceya, a world of activities has opened up. For Jackie Coleman-Turley, it has been the time of her life.

For the last two years, Aliceya and Jackie have met for several hours each week – to ice skate, swim, visit the Y, read together, or just talk. Aliceya needed a mentor, and Jackie wanted to play an important role for a child. Her own son was now 16 years old, and fewer of his activities involved mom.

Jackie, an accounting assistant with Altria Client Services in Richmond, VA, had contacted Big Brothers Big Sisters and offered to volunteer. “She was clearly a person who loved children and could make a positive difference,” said Traci Pryor, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond and the Tri-Cities. “Jackie’s varied interests and enthusiasm were just what this little girl needed.”

Mentoring has demonstrated an array of positive outcomes for kids, including increased academic engagement and a reduction in risky behaviors. To that end, since 2003, the tobacco companies that comprise Altria have provided more than $25 million in funding to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to support mentoring matches for kids and mentoring program improvements. Their funding support is projected to reach almost 43,000 kids throughout the southeastern U.S.

Jackie says her experience as a mentor has changed her life even more than Aliceya’s. “It’s a great learning experience,” she said. “I feel like it benefits you more than the child!”