thedrifter
09-14-04, 07:07 AM
Big Brothers Big Sisters moves on base
By Linda McIntosh
UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER
September 11, 2004
CAMP PENDLETON – Capt. Mike Oldham's week is packed. He supervises hundreds of Marines and makes sure aircraft are safe to fly.
But he also takes time to look after a boy whose father died of cancer.
For more than a year, Oldham has taken the 12-year-old under his wing. They have built shelves together, played basketball, gone over homework and just talked.
Oldham is one of dozens of Marines who joined forces with residents to mentor youth as volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County.
"You don't have to be a Disneyland dad. They just want you to hang out with them," said Oldham, 41, who served in the Marines for 23 years and is at the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar.
The youth mentoring program has operated since 1961 in the city and is coming to Camp Pendleton this fall.
It is the first time the program is being offered on a military base, said Sophie Ellis, program director.
"We had an idea. Why not pair up military volunteers with the military community?" Ellis said.
It seemed like a perfect match, because many Marines wanted to lend a hand and many kids on base needed mentors because their dads or moms were deployed.
"I have letters from Marines in Iraq saying they want to volunteer when they come back," Ellis said.
Their mission as a big brother or sister is to be a friend and role model to a youth.
Men are matched with boys and women with girls.
"They're a positive influence and a friend they can trust," said Carmen Carlisle, volunteer program manager on base.
Students meet their mentor for one hour each week after school. Together they can do sports or homework, arts or games or just talk.
"It's a good experience for both," Carlisle said.
"You can make such a difference in someone's life forever," Oldham said. "Without a helping hand, who knows what can happen?"
Mary Fay Pendleton School is one of the first sites where the program will be offered on base. Service members, active or retired, base personnel and those with base access are being recruited as volunteers.
Volunteers are asked to commit to one hour a week and will be given training on base. Children will be referred to the program by their teachers.
For information, call the base's volunteer program manager at (760) 725-3856 or visit www.beabig.net.
Do you have a story idea for Camp Pendleton? Contact Linda McIntosh at (760) 476-8214 or linda.mcintosh@uniontrib.com. For special events, please alert us at least four weeks in advance.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040911/images/2004-09-11camppen.jpg
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040911-9999-m1m11tfcamp.html
Ellie
By Linda McIntosh
UNION-TRIBUNE COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER
September 11, 2004
CAMP PENDLETON – Capt. Mike Oldham's week is packed. He supervises hundreds of Marines and makes sure aircraft are safe to fly.
But he also takes time to look after a boy whose father died of cancer.
For more than a year, Oldham has taken the 12-year-old under his wing. They have built shelves together, played basketball, gone over homework and just talked.
Oldham is one of dozens of Marines who joined forces with residents to mentor youth as volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County.
"You don't have to be a Disneyland dad. They just want you to hang out with them," said Oldham, 41, who served in the Marines for 23 years and is at the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar.
The youth mentoring program has operated since 1961 in the city and is coming to Camp Pendleton this fall.
It is the first time the program is being offered on a military base, said Sophie Ellis, program director.
"We had an idea. Why not pair up military volunteers with the military community?" Ellis said.
It seemed like a perfect match, because many Marines wanted to lend a hand and many kids on base needed mentors because their dads or moms were deployed.
"I have letters from Marines in Iraq saying they want to volunteer when they come back," Ellis said.
Their mission as a big brother or sister is to be a friend and role model to a youth.
Men are matched with boys and women with girls.
"They're a positive influence and a friend they can trust," said Carmen Carlisle, volunteer program manager on base.
Students meet their mentor for one hour each week after school. Together they can do sports or homework, arts or games or just talk.
"It's a good experience for both," Carlisle said.
"You can make such a difference in someone's life forever," Oldham said. "Without a helping hand, who knows what can happen?"
Mary Fay Pendleton School is one of the first sites where the program will be offered on base. Service members, active or retired, base personnel and those with base access are being recruited as volunteers.
Volunteers are asked to commit to one hour a week and will be given training on base. Children will be referred to the program by their teachers.
For information, call the base's volunteer program manager at (760) 725-3856 or visit www.beabig.net.
Do you have a story idea for Camp Pendleton? Contact Linda McIntosh at (760) 476-8214 or linda.mcintosh@uniontrib.com. For special events, please alert us at least four weeks in advance.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040911/images/2004-09-11camppen.jpg
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040911-9999-m1m11tfcamp.html
Ellie