Boston College Student to Run Boston Marathon for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

Annie Quinn Laces Up to Support Youth Mentorship Programs

On April 15, Annie Quinn, 19, of Newton, will run in the Boston Marathon. She will lace up to raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM), the state’s leading one-to-one mentoring program for youth.

In 2024, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts celebrates 75 years of service across the region. The nonprofit partners with families to provide children with one-to-one relationships with caring adult mentors who help them reach their fullest potential. With research and proven outcomes at its core, BBBSEM creates Big-Little matches based on shared interests, geography and personality and serves as a consistent resource for Bigs, Littles and their families. Children are paired with mentors across Eastern Massachusetts from the Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod and the Islands. Over the past seven decades, BBBSEM has supported more than 25,000 youth.

“I began running 5Ks with my family when I was in the fourth grade,” says Quinn. “I was on my middle and high schools’ cross-country teams and have run three half marathons and countless 5Ks. My mom ran D1 track and cross country for St. Joseph’s University. Even before her though, my grandfather was a marathon runner. Although he qualified to run the Boston Marathon, he got injured before the race. Running has been part of not only my identity but also my family connections for my entire life. I am beyond excited to be able to finish what my grandfather started and to do so with the motivation of raising money in support of the connections like the one I have with my Little.”

Quinn became a Big through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts’ campus-based Boston College program one year ago. During her first semester at Boston College, she realized how much she missed serving as a mentor and being around kids, which came to her naturally as an older sister. Her weekly time with her Little is transformational not only because she has the opportunity to guide a young girl through experiences she went through just a little while ago herself, but also because she is developing her own emotional intelligence and compassion from watching her Little grow.

Quinn is one of four Boston Marathon runners hitting the pavement and fundraising for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts this year. Her goal is to raise $10,000 to support the cause.

To support Quinn, visit: https://support.emassbigs.org/fundraiser/5216128

For more information, to become a volunteer or to register your children, visit: www.emassbigs.org