Bona Buddies is a social ministry program where one-to-one relationships are established between St. Bonaventure University students and local children. All of these children need the friendship, special attention and interest of an older person. These invaluable relationships often fill that gap in the life of a youth who needs positive role models and experiences.
Program Descriptions
Bona Buddies
Bona Buddies is our main mentoring program. SBU students serve as mentors for at least two hours a week with local children, ages 5-12. Some of the Bona Buddies receive tutoring. These children need positive role models who can encourage and listen to them. Most of our children are at risk and need the friendship, special attention, and interest of college students who can relate to them and their circumstances. Each mentor is asked to commit to one year of service. The program is in operation from September to May of each year.
Student Coordinator - Mike B. Murphy bonabud@sbu.edu
Bona Leaders
How is your subject knowledge? Bona Leaders provides tutoring for middle and high school students individually and in conjunction with the area’s after-school programs. Bona Leaders become involved with our local after-school programs and become tutors to middle and high school area youth ages 10 through 19.
Student Coordinators - Corrie Damulis bonabud@sbu.edu
Bona Big Sisters
Bona Big Sisters mentor middle and high school girls ages 13-19 in the Olean and surrounding areas. We work with girls to help them thrive during the tough years.
Student Coordinator - Tanisha Gamble bonabud@sbu.edu
Bona Rites of Passage
Bona Rites of Passage is the male component of Big Sisters. Guys, remember how rough early adolescence was? We are looking for a few good men to work as mentors and role models. These young men have behavior or school attendance issues or, as in our other programs, are simply in need of a friend/role model. Our mentees’ ages range from 13 to 19.
Student Coordinators - Shanequa Ravenell ravenest@sbu.edu
Bona Seniors
With the Bona Seniors program, a student volunteer “adopts” a senior citizen to spend quality time with. Relate well to older people? Adopt a nun from the retired sisters in our St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. We drive our Bona Senior volunteers to and from the Motherhouse where they read and talk to, or play board games with their sister friends. Sometimes, there is letter writing or just sharing some quiet time together.
Student Coordinator - Anthony Sarnelle sarnelaj@sbu.edu
Additional Information
Certain youths have been identified by their school, the Youth Bureau and/or the Bona Buddies program as needing ongoing tutoring. Tutors are student employees receiving federal Community Work Study and are required to comply with SBU student employment guidelines.
Tutors have met GPA and application requirements. These programs are in full operation from September to May of each year; some have summer requirements. Mentors are encouraged to continue some form of contact via letter writing, e-mail, or phone calls to their Bona Buddies over summer vacation and other academic breaks.