In her role as community-based program manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy County, Samantha Godfrey helps provide at-risk youth with positive adult mentors.
“Throughout my time at Big Brothers Big Sisters, I have been able to witness children in our community grow because of the mentoring relationships that we offer,” Godfrey told Will County Gazette. “Many of our children come from single-family households, low-income households, or struggle socially and academically. By providing them a positive role model they get to spend time one-on-one, I get to see these children experience different activities and gain knowledge about different things that they may not have had access to without their mentor.”
Godfrey has been with Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past three years. She chooses to work at the agency because she believes children should know their potential and have as much support as they can get throughout their childhood.
“I was fortunate to grow up with both my parents actively involved in my life,” Godfrey said. “However, unfortunately not every child is lucky enough to have that. That is why I think Big Brothers Big Sisters is an extremely important and beneficial program to have within the community. Children are faced with a lot of obstacles and barriers these days and it is our responsibility to help them overcome these obstacles and to show them they have people in their corner and to help them achieve their goals and become the best version of themselves.”
Godfrey said she has many goals for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Among them are making sure every child that comes through the agency’s doors is provided with a mentor, spreading awareness on the importance of mentoring relationships, and recruiting male volunteers for the at-risk male youths on the waiting list.
“I want to change the community by showing our youth that they can do anything they set their minds to and that there will always be someone in their corner to cheer them on, to be proud of their accomplishments, to help pick them up when they struggle, to teach them right from wrong, to show them all their potential in life and open them up to new experiences, and just be there for them,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey, a Joliet resident who was born and raised in Romeoville, has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Illinois University and a master’s degree in social work from Aurora University.
Godfrey enjoys spending whatever free time she has with her family and friends, watching TV and movies, going out to dinner, going for walks and taking vacations to warm destinations.
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