Ann Boyce and Jeremy

Matched: October, 2005

Jeremy's mother doesn't live near by. His father believed it was a good idea to find a female role model, and found Big Sister Ann Boyce. With a nurturing touch, she has positively introduced many new possibilities to Jeremy, now a teenager.

Ann is a volunteer who wears many different hats. She is the Executive Director of the Stilly-Snohomish Fisteries Enhancement Task Force, a locally recognized photographer, and an active YMCA Camp Orkila alumni, just to name a few. In her dealings from professional to social, she knows faces and names from the San Juans through to King County.

Ann and Jeremy are playful, enjoy sports and the outdoors, and have a very strong bond. Jeremy's dad says that he believes that Jeremy has made "a friend for life." Ann understands the power of having a mentor and unconditional friend and is an exceptional volunteer. She encourages Jeremy to be involved with sports and participate in community service projects such as cleaning up Jetty Island.

Ann's understanding of the power of mentoring has driven her to take leadership roles at the agency. As a Big of a teenager, she was instrumental in helping to motivate the Activities Committee to include events that teens would enjoy. She created a resource list that all Big and parents could use, to help identify free or cheap activities. Her willingness to take along a new Big Sister who was having some self confidence issues, really exemplifies her capacity of heart.

Through her prolific presence at the agency, she has had the opportunity to meet many other matches. Last year, a Little Brother's mentor passed on, and it was Ann who stepped in to help ease his grief. While not an official "match" Ann's mentorship to this other youngster further illuminates Ann's understanding of the importance of positively developing a child's fullest potential.

Jeremy's best interests and her willingness to help him whenever and however she can are exceptional qualities. Jeremy has a teacher and friend in Ann, and she encourages him to learn from activities and life. She is, "someone to talk to and learn from," he said. "I really enjoy doing things with her."

Jeremy's dad reports that he, "is more balanced since he has gotten to know Ann."

Ann and Jeremy exemplify a unique mentoring relationship which benefits them both. Jeremy's mother is not in the home, so Ann provides a unique role model in Jeremy's life. The goals of this relationship are for the mentor to be a supportive adult to Jeremy and encourage him in sports such as racquet ball, skateboarding, bowling, basketball, hiking, hockey games etc. There is no doubt that this is a successful one-of-a-kind relationship.

Ann Boyce is the Executive Director of the Stilly-Snohomish Task Force