LPL Invites Students To Go “Beyond School Walls” With Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentorship Program

During the bi-monthly program, the Bigs, which are the mentors, and Littles, the students, gather at the LPL campus to discuss topics such as goal setting, organizational skills, financial literacy and more. “We want to give children a person to rely on, and, by showing them a corporate workspace, an idea of what their future can be like,” said Corey Johnson, Fort Mill Middle School assistant principal.

For students, the program provides a personal, hands-on experience in the workplace that shows students the value of hard work to drive their ambitions. For LPL employee volunteers, it provides a meaningful way to give back to the communities where they work and live. 

Isha McKnight, an LPL employee volunteer with the program for all five years, said, “I can be involved right here in my every day work environment, and my peers can see the good things we are doing. 

“For the Littles, by seeing the ins and outs of working in a career workplace, it sets a tone, provides a new perspective, and opens their eyes to a new possibility,” she added. “Best of all is relationships we develop with the kids.  They circle around to give a hug good-bye and share their school successes, like when they get a good grade.”

This year’s Beyond School Walls with LPL program marks the first of its kind for Big Brothers Big Sisters in York County. LPL recently relocated to Fort Mill from Charlotte and remained a committed partner to BBBS. “I thank LPL for their generosity,” said BBBS CEO Donna Dunlap. “We’ve been working together for five years and this continued partnership is affording us our first opportunity to make an impact in York County. We recognize the great need across all of the Central Carolinas, and, in particular, the smaller counties where support is hard to reach.”

“LPL and Big Brothers Big Sisters share the goal of empowering youth to be able to reach their life’s aspirations,” said Kathleen Zemaitis, LPL senior vice president, Corporate Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility. “We are proud to be able to provide mentorship and support that can help to propel students forward, while also being able to demonstrate our corporate commitment to supporting the needs of our local communities.”