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

Grace Petrick Laces Up to Support Youth Mentorship Programs

NEWTON, Mass. – On April 15, Grace Petrick, 21, of  Danville Pennsylvania, 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 am running to support the BBBSEM community and for my little, both of which have become so important to me in the past year,” stated Petrick.

Petrick became a Big through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts’ campus-based Boston College program one year ago. She was inspired to sign up for the program from her dad who was a big in college and raved about his positive experience. Petrick and her little Sarah have been matched for over a year and would recommend the experience to anyone looking to make a positive impact on their community.

Petrick 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.