With a new $15,000 grant from the Jack in the Box Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu will be able to expand services at its 30 site-based programs at schools and community centers.

The grant will be presented to the Hawai'i social service organization by "Jack" himself tomorrow at the Waipahu Jack in the Box restaurant at 94-327 Kunia Road.

"This will help increase the mentoring at our site-based programs," said Big Brothers Big Sisters spokeswoman Lesly Johnson.

The social-service organization serves about 810 children, and hopes to be able to add to that as a result of the award. Much of the mentoring at the school sites is done by high school students who serve as role models for the younger children.

But the group needs more volunteers to be Big Brothers, said Jill Matro, match support specialist with Hawai'i Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"We could make use immediately of 12 Big Brothers," she said. "It's very difficult for us right now to find volunteers because 40 percent of our volunteers are from the military and a lot are gone" on deployment.

The Jack in the Box Foundation grant will provide funding for all the school and community sites, training for new volunteers, as well as background checks. It generally costs about $1,000 for each child who is mentored because case managers also are involved with each match-up.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.