Big Readers @ WEX

We’re always looking for ways to develop our relationships with community organizations into true partnerships and to make it easy for WEXers to be involved. So, we were thrilled to collaborate with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine to host their Big Readers program at our headquarters. With a focus on literacy mentoring, the program brings 9 second-graders identified as needing additional reading support to WEX every week for an hour of reading and other activities with a dedicated WEX big brother or sister.

“In addition to expanding an already existing relationship with Big Brothers and Sisters, this program supports one of the long-term goals of the United Way of Greater Portland to improve literacy rates,” says Melissa Dudley, our corporate philanthropy manager. “Studies show that only 59 percent of Maine children read proficiently at the end of third grade, and participation in Big Readers can help students struggling with this vital skill.”

WEX kicked off its Big Readers sessions in late November following a careful process designed to match each “little” selected by his or her teacher with a WEX “big” based on shared interests, backgrounds and strengths. WEXers make a two-year commitment to Big Readers, so every child can build a relationship with his or her adult mentor over time.

Having the program onsite, and during lunch time, makes it easy for WEXers to participate and get a feel for what it might be like to be a big brother or sister. “I’ve been interested in becoming a big brother, and Big Readers is the perfect entry point for me to see what this mentoring relationship is like,” says WEXer Stephen Lindsay of his experience.

For WEX “big” Eileen Batchelder, volunteering for Big Readers was a natural fit as reading with her now-teenaged children was always a favorite activity. “WEX made it really easy to participate,” she says. “They bring the kids here and they give us paid time for volunteering – it’s a simple and enjoyable way to give back to the community and make a difference in the life of a child.”

In addition to Big Readers, we also host CodeX workshops for youth at our headquarters in collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. Both programs address one of our core values to be a positive force in the community, along with our desire to offer WEXers the opportunity to support the community in the workplace. Learn more about our core values and commitment to social responsibility.