BOSTON, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB) urges the Greater Boston community to start 2013 off right by participating in Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service this Monday, January 21, 2013. Dedicated to representing Dr. King's question, "What are you doing for others?" the Day of Service is a prime opportunity to make an impact in the lives of our community's youth.

With more than 1,000 boys in Massachusetts Bay currently waiting to be matched with a Big Brother, BBBSMB seeks fun and energetic mentors to sign up now and start making a difference in the lives of a young person.  

"Mentoring a youth in our community is tremendously rewarding for both the mentee and mentor," said Wendy Foster, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. "Big Brothers Big Sisters provides an outstanding level of support to our children and helps them gain self-confidence and perform better in school. Now is the time to honor Dr. King's vision by starting a friendship with a child in your community."

Research has shown children with adult mentors are 46 percent less likely than their peers to use drugs and 52 percent less likely to skip school. Mentored youth also become more adept at having quality relationships with adults, which contributes to their abilities to advocate for themselves throughout their lives.

January also marks the twelfth anniversary of National Mentoring Month, an annual campaign dedicated to raise awareness about the importance of mentoring. To find out how to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, please visit http://www.bbbsmb.org/GetInvolved/Default.aspx. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB) has 60 years of experience fostering professionally supported one-on-one friendships between young people and adult mentors. With research and proven outcomes at its core, the organization is working to ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. With a service area encompassing 155 cities and towns throughout the Massachusetts Bay area and over 1,800 youth currently being served, BBBSMB is helping to strengthen communities by providing kids with an invested, caring adult mentor in their lives. BBBSMB's vision is to inspire, engage and transform Massachusetts Bay by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, brighter futures and stronger communities.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay