Leaving A Legacy in Mentoring
Cassidy was a devoted volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters and involved in raising money and awareness for youth mentoring. She advocated for a BBBS program in her school, and when it wasn't available, she trained to be a mentor and planned to travel to the local Boys and Girls Club to meet with a young girl in need of a positive role model. Cass was just two weeks from meeting her first “Little Sister” when she passed on Oct. 11, 2014. She never had the chance to be a "Big Sister" but her dream was fulfilled In January, 2015, when a new youth mentoring program was created in her honor in the RSU 18 Messalonskee school district where she attended school. A record-breaking 100+ high school students signed up to be “Bigs” to mentor elementary students and soon over 30 matches were meeting weekly. Her brother Colby was the first to be matched and continued to be a mentor to his Little Brother Harrison for four years until he graduated from high school. Harrison, inspired by Cass and his Big Brother, became the first "Little" in the ShineOnCass program to become a Big. Cass Shining On.
Building on the success of the Messalonskee ShineOnCass programs at Williams and Atwood elementary schools, a third community program was established in 2016 at the Waterville YMCA/Boys & Girls Club at Alfond Youth Center (where Cass would have mentored) and later a program at China Elementary, in the end matching kids with high school students from Messalonskee, Fairfield, Winslow, Waterville, and China. Read the story here.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine closed its agency in 2025. But the story doesn't end there! Learn about our TWO new mentoring programs!
Cassidy was a devoted volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters and involved in raising money and awareness for youth mentoring. She advocated for a BBBS program in her school, and when it wasn't available, she trained to be a mentor and planned to travel to the local Boys and Girls Club to meet with a young girl in need of a positive role model. Cass was just two weeks from meeting her first “Little Sister” when she passed on Oct. 11, 2014. She never had the chance to be a "Big Sister" but her dream was fulfilled In January, 2015, when a new youth mentoring program was created in her honor in the RSU 18 Messalonskee school district where she attended school. A record-breaking 100+ high school students signed up to be “Bigs” to mentor elementary students and soon over 30 matches were meeting weekly. Her brother Colby was the first to be matched and continued to be a mentor to his Little Brother Harrison for four years until he graduated from high school. Harrison, inspired by Cass and his Big Brother, became the first "Little" in the ShineOnCass program to become a Big. Cass Shining On.
Building on the success of the Messalonskee ShineOnCass programs at Williams and Atwood elementary schools, a third community program was established in 2016 at the Waterville YMCA/Boys & Girls Club at Alfond Youth Center (where Cass would have mentored) and later a program at China Elementary, in the end matching kids with high school students from Messalonskee, Fairfield, Winslow, Waterville, and China. Read the story here.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine closed its agency in 2025. But the story doesn't end there! Learn about our TWO new mentoring programs!
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Shine Together Youth Mentoring
In 2026 ShineOnCass Foundation, in partnership with Alfond Youth & Community Center (AYCC) in Waterville started Shine Together, a new youth mentoring program to foster meaningful connections, confidence, and community among local youth! Shine Together pairs students from Messalonskee High School with children K-5 attending the AYCC After School Program at Atwood Primary School in Oakland. Through weekly, one-to-one mentoring, students build positive relationships centered on kindness, encouragement, shared interests and positive role modeling. High school mentors (Bigs) are carefully screened and trained before being thoughtfully matched with younger mentees (Littles) based on personality and interests. Matches meet weekly after school to read, play board games, do crafts, work on homework, build trust, and create consistent, supportive connections. Shine Together is led by ShineOnCass volunteers serving as weekly program coordinators who facilitate group activities, lead kindness initiatives, and provide ongoing match support. AYCC After School Program staff provides program training and oversight, ensuring match safety and success. We LOVE helping youth Shine -- Together! For more information Contact ShineOnCass or the AYCC: Heidi Sumner at 207-873-0684 | [email protected] |
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In Fall 2025, ShineOnCass Foundation launched ShineOnCLASS, a new collaborative mentoring program with RSU 18 matching Williams Elementary School 4th graders with Atwood Primary School's 2nd grade students to provide positive role-modeling, enduring new friendships, and consistent interactions to help kids reach their greatest potential! The new program includes kindness initiatives and community service activities with our ShineOnCass volunteers!
This special initiative provides early opportunity for 4th graders to learn important leadership skills, while 2nd graders have friendly, familiar faces when they transfer to a new school in 3rd grade! Cassidy believed one person could make a difference in a child's life. We know she is proud of all who continue to Shine Her Light by shining their own and supporting youth mentoring. Shine On Cass! |
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