Sharon Moore

Often, the difference between kids who stagnate and those who thrive is the presence of a caring adult who makes them feel special. Just one such person can make an immense difference to a child facing absent (or non-existent) parents, schoolyard bullies or others who just don’t have the time of day for the child.

For Sharon Moore, executive director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and Area (BBBS), one person who made such a difference was her Grade 6 teacher, Mr. Smith. Moore was an extremely shy girl, and that timidity affected her school performance.

“I’ll never forget when he said to me at the beginning of the year, ‘You are going to be one of my top students this year,’” Moore recalls. Under Mr. Smith’s gentle prodding and coaching, Moore blossomed and, as a result, she found her passion — improving the lives of other children.

Moore has worked as executive director for BBBS for almost six years and in that time has affected the lives of not only countless children, but also the volunteer mentors who work with them.

Moore, along with the staff and volunteers at BBBS, has made it her mission to find a mentor for any child who could use the extra nudge to their sense of self, a friend to shoot hoops with or a role model who can enrich their lives in other ways.

“Children have always been my passion,” says Moore. “My dream is that we are going to create a culture of mentoring in this city . . . Everyone has the ability to inspire.”

Through a diverse array of mentoring programs at BBBS, children are matched one-on-one with caring adults or teens, so that they, too, may blossom. New programs like the Recreation Mentoring program have attracted adult male volunteers to BBBS, who were in short supply until recently.

The Between Generations program links older adults with children, and the Teen Mentoring program enlists high school kids to spend time one-on-one with the same elementary school chidren, for an hour each week during school hours.

While there’s no doubt the youngsters benefit from the experience, so do their mentors.

“It’s not about the programs,” says Moore, “It’s all about the relationships. That’s why I stay here.”

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Dr. Maria Eriksen
For giving, and giving, and giving

MEOW Foundation
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The Pumphouse Theatres Society
For cultivating the arts

Paul Hagel
For being on board

The Alexandra Community Health Centre
For building a healthier community