The Big Buddy program was founded in 1989, by Arthur Salz, a professor of early elementary childhood education. He read in a newspaper report that there were 10,000 homeless children in New York. “Obviously these children were going through a hard time in their life,” Salz said. “I wanted to do something to support them in this difficult time.” This program connects Queens College students with elementary school children in transitional homes and works with the Jamaica Family Residence and the Briarwood Family Residence. The two coordinators of the program are Sheryl Marmon Halm, a retired principal, and Elizabeth Shneider, who was a former Big Buddy mentor. Between 40 to…