With her positive attitude and eagerness to always lend a hand, Sydney Emerson has made a significant impact over the years on the kids and families we serve. She is a Making It Better Young Professionals (MIBYP) member who volunteers at many of our Family Literacy Nights and serves as a mentor in our Lunch Bunch program. We’re so grateful for Sydney’s support and look forward to many more years of her service! Please read below to learn more about her journey as a Making It Better volunteer.
What year did you begin your involvement with Making It Better?
2013
Why and how did you get involved?
In college, being in a sorority instilled in me the passion of giving back as we supported many philanthropies, and I knew after graduating and moving back home to Houston that I still wanted to continue that – I just wasn’t sure how. I got involved with Making It Better because my best friend’s mom worked for them at the time and encouraged me to get involved. Founder Jerry Davis also used to be the lacrosse coach at my old high school (Westside), and so I knew quite a few Westside Alumni who were involved.
What has your experience been like as a mentor in Making It Better’s Lunch Bunch program? Lunch Bunch is one of my favorite programs because I get to build relationships with my group of girls. I follow them from 4th through 5th grade and help prepare them for middle school.
What’s your most memorable moment in the program?
Wow, there’s quite a few! The most heartfelt moment is when I had one girl open up to me about struggles she was facing at home. Another moment that brought a smile to my face was when my girls were so excited and proud to show me their cheerleader routine – it was adorable. But the most rewarding moment was when I realized how far the girls had come from the first day to the last day in the program.
What was your favorite book as a child?
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Why do you think literacy is so important? I can’t help but think of the words of the late, great Mrs. Barbara Bush, “The American Dream is about equal opportunity for everyone who works hard. If we don’t give everyone the ability to simply read and write, then we aren’t giving everyone an equal chance to succeed.”
What are your hopes for the future of Making It Better?
I hope that Making It Better continues to grow and impact many more children’s lives.
If you would like to get involved with Making It Better, please contact Ashley Danna at adanna@mibtx.wpengine.com.