Former Little Sister Ashley Prebble counts her relationship with Big Sister Krista McGrath as an important shaper of who she is.

"Krista has been such a positive influence in my life," says Prebble. "She's just a very strong woman."

McGrath has always known what she wants out of life and been confident in herself and that's helped Prebble come to be similarly self-assured. "It's definitely been a huge influence in me becoming a woman," she says.

Lisa Cloutier, director of operations for Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland, says the women's story is testament to the impact of the organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

"Since 1960 we have been matching young girls with positive female role models," she says. "We are a mentoring organization and we seek to really build up the self-esteem and confidence of girls by providing them with a supportive older friend that they can trust and rely on."

In addition to empowering young girls, the program also fills a need for some youth. "Some girls today don't have that one person in their corner who can sort of cheer them on to success," says Cloutier.

Big Sisters mentors do a great job of helping their Little Sisters come to believe in themselves and what they're capable of achieving. Programs include: the Big and Little Sister one-on-one mentoring program, an approximate three hour a week commitment; as well as the Study Buddy tutoring program, a one hour a week commitment that in addition to mentoring, focuses on academics.

To mark their 50th anniversary, rather than hold a big party, organization representatives opted to celebrate their successes by reaching out to program alumni and get them to share their stories of friendship, posting them on their website, blog, Facebook page or in their newsletter. They hope the celebration serves as a means of attracting new Big Sisters to the program enabling them to support more young girls than ever before. "We currently have 150 girls on our waiting list, which is really high," says Cloutier.

They also hope it inspires current matches and raises awareness of the program, attracting new Little Sisters.

Prebble, 22, and McGrath, 35, are among the alumni matches that have gotten back in touch with the organization as part of the festivities. The North Vancouver residents were matched in 2001, when Prebble was 13, and were part of the program until she turned 19. Prebble came to the program after her older sister moved away and her mother thought it would be a good idea for her to have a positive role model in her life. She waited a year to be matched. "It was a long wait," she says. "Then a year later, this angel walked into my apartment."

McGrath opted to get involved after she moved to North Vancouver in 2000 and saw an ad for the program. Having had a great upbringing on Vancouver Island, she viewed getting involved as a great opportunity to give back, she says. She remembers fondly the day she met Prebble and her mother, walking into their North Shore apartment and being greeted by the expectant smile on the young girl's face.

They had an incredible time in the program, attending a Canucks game, various arts and cultural performances, going to movies, having lunch dates and people-watching at Kitsilano Beach.

The girls have grown up together, for example, when McGrath first got involved, she was a single woman, now she's married with two children, and runs a family business, and Prebble is out of her teens and working through post-secondary studies as well is busy with a job. Despite how their lives have changed, they've maintained their friendship. "I love the person that Ashley is and has become," says McGrath. "She's an old soul basically. She's always been very wise beyond her years. . . . She just has a huge heart. I love you, love you, love you."

For more information on Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland, to share a story of past involvement, to read those stories, or to become a Big or Little Sister, visit www.bigsisters.bc.ca.

emcphee@nsnews.com