FAIRFIELD — The Plum Creek Foundation recently awarded a $1,000 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine to help fund the organization’s school-based mentoring program, which matches high school and college students promote healthy relationships, according to a press release.

Mentors are paired with children between the ages of five and 14. They help with schoolwork, play games and go on outings. According the Alex Gaeth, chief executive officer, the 240 children participating in the program come from single parent, low-income homes and struggle both socially and academically. Additionally, one in every five students served suffers from a developmental disability.

“The presence of a positive role model can be life changing,” said Gaeth in the release. “Most of the children we serve do not have a stable influence. Thanks to the help of the Plum Creek Foundation, we can provide children facing adversity with a supportive role model.”

The grant will go towards purchasing healthy snacks and stocking activity bins for the programs in Somerset and Penobscot counties, in addition to funding mentor background checks.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit bbbsmidmaine.org.

The mission of the Plum Creek Foundation is to provide philanthropic contributions to support and improve the general welfare of life in the communities that Plum Creek serves. The Foundation board meets quarterly to review applications submitted from organizations in the company’s operating communities. Visit the Community Involvement page on Plum Creek’s website at plumcreek.com to download an application.

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