"Having a Big Brother means there is someone to cheer me up when I am sad." – Christopher, 7
"I feel happier knowing I have my Big Sister. I used to hide behind my hair. Everyone has noticed that I pull my hair back now, because Brenda has opened me up." – Little Sister Ashley
"The most valuable part... is the feeling of being able to make a difference in someone’s life." – Andrew, Big Brother
"The best thing about being a Big Sister is knowing that I am giving my Little Sister a secure friendship when her world is unstable." – Big Sister Judy
"Because of the Youth Emergency Shelter Society, I have now been clean from crystal meth for eight and a half months. I am living at home now and will graduate from school in the spring." – a former Y.E.S.S. client
"The best thing about having a Big Sister is to have someone to talk to and also you can be yourself without them judging you." – Little Sister Sofia
"My Big Brother is someone to talk to, someone to brighten up my day." – Thomas, 11
"Being a Big Sister has reminded me that just being a consistent presence in another’s life is a powerful thing. Showing a young girl that she is worth spending time with... I think that alone has the power to make a difference in her life." – Big Sister Sheila
"I know that I have been blessed many times over, and one of those blessings is Y.E.S.S." – a client
"The most valuable part was getting to know [him] and forming a bond with him. I feel that we both had an impact on each other." – Justin, Big Brother
"The Big Sisters program has been important in providing my daughter, at a pivotal moment in her life, with strong mentorship and guidance to make the right choices." – Roberta, parent of a Little Sister
"If there was no Y.E.S.S. then I know from my experience I would still be working the streets, abusing drugs and living from place to place. Or maybe I would be in jail again." – letter from a former Y.E.S.S. client
"This program has greatly improved my child's life. My daughter does not have many friends, and to have the opportunity to have someone in her life that is non-judgmental is really special. Her Big Sister is that person and has made such an impact on my daughter." – Helen, parent of a Little Sister
"The changes I’ve seen in [him] have been the most rewarding. We have a mutual respect for one another and have a lot of fun." – Drew, Big Brother
"I feel the Big Sisters program has been a wonderful program for my daughter because she has someone there for her and it boosts her self esteem." – Sheila, parent of a Little Sister