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Every Friday night for years, Big Brother John sat on a bleacher, cheering on his Little Brother Leondre. John never missed one of Leondre’s football games, and supported him off the field as well. He even joined Leondre’s school’s “Quarterback Club,” which is designed for players’ dads.

“Leondre grew up without his father, as did I,” John says. “I grew up poor in a home without a father or any prominent male figure to help me navigate the path to manhood. I wanted to give Leondre that much needed, positive male figure.”

A positive male figure was exactly what Little Brother Leondre’s mom was looking for when she signed him up to be a Little. “I was worried about raising him by myself. As a woman, I knew I could raise Leondre to be a good person,” she says. “I didn’t know how to teach him to be a good man.”

“When you look into the eyes of a young boy and tell him that you are going to do something, you have to follow through.”

– Big Brother John

Leondre says that their similar upbringings allowed him to trust John. He was instantly able to see him as a role model for his behavior and ambitions. “John and I grew up exactly alike,” Leondre says.  They both grew up without a father, raised by single mom, and often caring for younger brothers and sisters. The challenges John faced were more than circumstances to overcome—they helped him become a loving, ambitious person, Leondre says, and he looks up to him for that.

When Leondre was first matched with John, more than eight years ago, he was struggling at school and was a C student. Big Brother John encouraged him to take school more seriously and impressed upon him that he needed to not only pursue athletic achievement but also academic competence and educational goals. “He has motivated me to attend college and get an education and have a positive future and help my family,” Leondre says.

According to Big Brother John, Leondre has grown to be a role model for other students in the classroom and other players on the field. Leondre even says one day he would like to “pay it forward” by becoming a Big Brother himself.

Now, Leondre is in his second semester of college at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. He is going to school on an athletic scholarship, hoping to become a social worker. He is still in contact with his Big Brother, John. “He asked me if I would still be his Big Brother once he graduated high school,” John recalls. “I replied, ‘Yes! I want to be there during your college years and…see you graduate college. I want to talk to you about your girlfriends, your wife, your kids. I will always be here for you.’”

 

partner-logo-gen2gen_logoGeneration to Generation
In partnership with Encore.org and Generation to Generation, we are working on recruiting new Bigs across the nation. Generation to Generation is a campaign that believes in the power of connecting older adults to kids who need their support. For more stories about mentors over 50, or to pledge to get involved as a mentor yourself, visit generationtogeneration.org.

Big Sister Dawn raised her two sons and called herself the “tomboy mom.” She taught her boys the traditionally male and female roles in their household, and felt comfortable raising boys. When her sons moved out and that “empty nest” feeling crept in, she volunteered to be a Big Sister.  She asked for a Little Brother.

Philip’s mom was looking for someone to be a role model for her son, and to be there for him when she couldn’t, due to working the night shift. At first, Little Brother Philip admits he felt “iffy” about having a Big Sister instead of a Big Brother. “But when she took me out for the first time, that all changed,” Phillip says.

Dawn was into sports, so she and Phillip began to bond over playing tennis. For Philip’s first birthday during their match, Dawn got him a baseball glove, and they started going to games, hoping to catch a foul ball.

“When my mom signed me up for BBBS, I thought I would want a guy Big, but now, I’d rather have Dawn.”

– Little Brother Philip

Cooking together has been another of Dawn and Philip’s favorite activities in the almost four years they have been matched. Philip had always been a big help in the kitchen with his mother, but he started chiming in and teaching her what he’d learned while cooking with Dawn. “All of a sudden, Philip was jumping in and adding little things that Dawn showed him,” Philip’s mom says. “And he even made all his own potatoes one time when we were grilling out. ‘This is how Dawn and I do it, Mom, let me do it for you,’” she says.

Big Sister Dawn makes time to see her Little Brother, even when she’s having a tough week. Dawn has a disease called sarcoidosis, for which she must get a chemotherapy shot each week. She intentionally plans her treatment early in the week so she can be recovered enough to spend time with Philip later in the week. Even when she’s not feeling well, she tries to see her Little Brother. “She is an amazing, strong woman for being in her medical situation and then taking on a 9- 10-year-old and being as active,” Philip’s mom says.

When Little Brother Philip’s mom enrolled her son as a Little in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, she was hoping to find someone to teach him how to be a man. Instead, she got Dawn, a role model who has taught Philip about focus, commitment, and strength — who happens to be a Big Sister and a “tomboy mom.”

Editor’s note: BBBSA received permission from the family to name Dawn’s diagnoses in this story.

 

partner-logo-gen2gen_logoGeneration to Generation
In partnership with Encore.org and Generation to Generation, we are working on recruiting new Bigs across the nation. Generation to Generation is a campaign that believes in the power of connecting older adults to kids who need their support. For more stories about mentors over 50, or to pledge to get involved as a mentor yourself, visit generationtogeneration.org.

Growing up an only child of a single mom can be lonely, so Little Brother Evan was more than ready for camaraderie and adventure when he was matched with Big Brother Nick, then an MIT student, nine years ago. “Nick and I play sports together sometimes, and he inspires me to work hard to be like him,” Evan says. Through hockey, Nick showed Evan how to be a good teammate, be confident, and challenge himself.

When Little Brother Evan and Big Brother Nick were first matched, Nick was attending MIT and playing on the MIT hockey team. Little Brother Evan and his single mom became Nick’s biggest fans. They attended every home game and most away games. Evan became an extension of the team. He assisted with the scoreboard, volunteered to take down the rink at the end of the season, and even skated with the team during practice.

“He inspires me to work hard to be like him,” Nick says. After playing for six years, mostly with Nick and his friends, Evan tried out for his high school hockey team and became a varsity hockey player.

As an only child of a single mom, Evan has had a limited support system. He and his mom are close, but being a family of two is not always easy. “For any child who represents exactly half of the family unit, there is for the child an imperceptible and constant sense of vulnerability and unease. It’s the feeling of being almost alone in the world, or one adult away from having to fend for oneself,” Evan’s mom says. “Nick, by being a stable and consistent part of Evan’s life, has calmed this sense of vulnerability.”

“While teaching Evan, I have become a more confident, patient, and empathetic man. When the time comes, I know the experience will make me a better father.”

– Big Brother Nick

Throughout his childhood, Evan lacked self-confidence and struggled to make friends. Diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and a language disability, Evan was often frustrated with himself and uncomfortable in social situations. Nick says that for a couple of years, Evan would repeat the same phrases again and again, phrases that didn’t fit with the context of the conversation. “These are known as verbal tics, which are a hallmark of Tourette’s Syndrome,” Nick says. “Later, he would frequently say ‘I wish I didn’t have a learning disability’ or ‘I wish I wasn’t born like this.’”

Playing hockey has helped Evan both with his self-confidence and with his ability to make friends, and Nick has been there to support him. “I encouraged him to fight through these struggles, to embrace who he is, and to focus on what he can control,” Nick says.  He also found stories about successful people who had persevered through similar adversity and used these to try to inspire Evan. “Nick makes me feel good about myself,” Evan says.

Now, Evan is an honors student in high school. He is diligent about his schoolwork and committed to achieving his goals. And he has learned coping skills and self-acceptance from his mom and Big Brother. “I have not heard him repeat the verbal tics or complain about his learning disabilities in over a year now,” Nick says.

Just by stepping up to become a Big Brother, Nick doubled the number of important adults in Evan’s life. But he did even more than that for Evan, Evan’s mom says. “Nick, through introducing Evan to his larger group of friends, provided many good role models for Evan – men and women who were undeterred by hard work, who excelled at school and athletics, and who longed to change the world for the better. So it wasn’t just Nick modeling this behavior, but Nick’s large group of friends, too, whom Evan got to know,” Evan’s mom says. “All of them illustrating for Evan what is possible in life when you are determined and focused and committed.”

Editor’s note: BBBSA received permission from the family to name Evan’s diagnoses in this story.

Little Sister Trina and her two brothers were adopted when Trina was 3. She had been in and out of foster care for her whole life. She was quiet and withdrawn.

Three years after her adoption, Trina’s mom brought her to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon so Trina could be matched with a Big Sister.

“We were unsure of getting a Big for her, as we didn’t know if they would stay committed to Trina,” her mom says. “Knowing her pain of being tossed back and forth between birth mom and stranger, she needed a stable and loving Big.”

Big Sister Katy was matched with Little Sister Trina, who was 6 at the time. “The first time I saw Katy was at Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors,” Trina says. “I’m pretty sure I got chocolate chip mint.”

“Being Trina’s Big Sister has been a privilege. I hope to encourage Trina to do good things and push her to do better with the opportunities in her life. I know she does the same for me, without even knowing it.”

– Big Sister Katy

Katy had considered becoming a Big for a long time before she officially volunteered. She served on the Board of BBBS of Central Oregon and thought about what it would be like to mentor a child herself. She held off because she was nervous. She asked herself dozens of anxious questions. “Was I good enough? How could I change a life? What could I offer a Little Sister? Did I have the time? Would she like me?”

When she met Trina for the first time at that ice cream shop, though, those questions disappeared. “I realized I didn’t need the answers to all those questions,” Katy says. “Rather, I made a commitment to focus my energy on helping someone else in whatever way I could, to be present for her.”

In the past four years, Little Sister Trina and Big Sister Katy have spent countless hours baking cookies, doing crafts, walking Katy’s dog, reading, and talking. Being able to open up to Katy has helped Trina gain self-confidence. “Trina was shy and reserved over the first part of our match, very different from her outgoing, spunky self today,” Katy says. “Over time I’ve seen her open up, talk to strangers, order her own dinner at a restaurant, try new activities she wouldn’t [try] before, even begin to like school more.”

When Little Sister Trina talks about Katy, it’s clear that she values her Big Sister’s consistency as much as her foster mom does. “Katy is so amazing because she doesn’t ever give up on being my Big Sister even though she is so busy and works so much,” she says. “I want her to be my Big Sister as long as I can have her. As long as I know her.”

When Little Sister Parasia was 7, she was standing in her family’s living room when she was narrowly missed by something coming through the wall – a stray bullet. “She still talks about how scared she was that day,” Big Sister Michelle says.

A member of Parasia’s immediate family was incarcerated for gang activity, and there was no way for her life to avoid being touched by violence. Little Sister Parasia’s mom realized the odds were against her daughter.

She knew Parasia was seeing some scary things in her neighborhood and that she would need help making sure her daughter beat the odds. She enrolled Parasia as a Little Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands seven years ago. “As a young single mother of four children, it was difficult for me to have one-on-one time with each of my children,” she says.

At the same time, Little Sister Parasia’s mom was realizing she needed a Big for her daughter, Big Sister Michelle was realizing she needed a way to connect to her community and give back. She had served on committees and hosted fundraisers, but something was still missing. “My work didn’t feel personal,” she says. “It felt disconnected from the people and causes I most wanted to help.”

“Every time someone asks me who she is, I say with confidence and pride, ‘That’s my sister.’”

– Little Sister Parasia

To connect with Parasia, Michelle has taken her to do fun things, like going horseback riding, seeing the “Bodies” exhibit at an Omaha museum, and going out for ice cream on a cold, snowy day, and also to do service projects, like working in food pantries. “We build a friendship and love forged on fun and service that carried us through the difficult times,” Michelle says.

About four years ago, Parasia’s family was in the process of buying a Habitat for Humanity home. When Parasia’s family was away, the house they were renting caught on fire. They lost everything, including their family dog.

Michelle stepped up. “She did so much for us when our house caught fire and fell down,” Parasia says.

For helping Parasia’s family and for her service as a Habitat volunteer, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha named her their 2015 Power Woman of the Year. “Michelle was the ringleader in helping coordinate all of the many donations to help my family start over,” Parasia’s mom says.

Through those tough times after the fire and during Parasia’s transition to adolescence, Big Sister Michelle stayed committed to their match. “She has, at times, like any teenager, been moody, unresponsive, and stubborn. She has had failing grades and has gotten into trouble at school.” To get through those times, Michelle says she worked as a team with Parasia’s mom to support and guide Parasia.

Now, Little Sister Parasia is a thriving high school student. “Her grades are B’s and above, she has a good relationship with her teachers, and she truly understands the importance of her education and of staying out of trouble,” Michelle says. “College is her goal.”

As a football coach, Big Brother Tohib saw that boys truly need positive adult role models. Growing up, he had caring parents who pushed him to reach his potential. “They never settled for ‘good,’” he says. “I always had to work harder.” With his parents’ encouragement, Tohib went to school for finance and earned his Master’s degree. He wanted to give back and help kids who might not have such positive adults in their lives, so he became a Big Brother. He was matched with Little Brother Makhari.

Makhari’s mom wanted to enroll her son as a Little Brother because he needed a role model. “He needed a stable man in his life. Makhari has a relationship with his dad, but due to substance abuse problems, his father is in and out of his life. It has never been stable,” she says. Tohib has been consistent and committed throughout their relationship, calling to check on Makhari in between visits. Makhari says he acts differently because he knows Tohib cares about his grades and his behavior. “I have someone who is looking at the things I am doing and making sure I do the right thing so I can be a good man when I grow up,” Makhari says.

Matched for more than eight years, Tohib and Makhari connected right away. They went to Patriots games and Red Sox games with tickets from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State, and they bonded over sports.

After spending some time with his Little Brother, Big Brother Tohib noticed that he had never learned any money skills. As an accountant, he knew he could teach Little Brother Makhari about the value of a dollar. They started by opening up a bank account for Makhari. “We talked about deposits, withdrawals, keeping a ledger, and saving money,” Tohib says. “It is Makhari’s money in his account. When he earns money, I take him to the bank to deposit it. We talk about interest and how the money can grow if he keeps it in there.”

“I know I cannot slack on my schoolwork because Tohib is going to check in on me.”
– Little Brother Makhari

Their relationship has lasted eight years, but it has not been without its challenges. At one point, Makhari started hanging out with friends who were skipping school. He stopped focusing on homework, and started avoiding Tohib. Tohib tried to help, and ended up frustrated. They took a few months off from scheduling outings together.

Makhari’s school attendance and grades got worse. His mom asked BBBSOS to try to get the relationship back on track. “When our current Match Support Specialist called and asked if I could start seeing Makhari again, I was hesitant,” Tohib says. “Our Match Support Specialist, Heather, told me that she had talked to Makhari and he was ready to make a commitment to our match again. Since then, the match has been going great.”

Last October, the match participated in a walkathon, a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tohib challenged Makhari to run with him the whole way. “There were a few times when I thought I was going to fall down. Tohib was encouraging the entire time,” Makhari says. “He told me we could go as fast or slow as I wanted. He said if I needed a break, we would take one. He wanted to encourage me but not let me quit. We finished the race running.”

Their relationship is like that walkathon. Makhari says when they took a break and recommitted to their match, he learned that his Big Brother would not give up on him. “Even when I wanted to give up for a while, he did not. We came back together and are even closer now.”

President Obama has issued a proclamation designating January National Mentoring Month.  In the proclamation, he emphasized that mentoring a young person does more than help that one young person; he says mentoring has effects that ripple through communities and strengthen our whole country.

“As a Nation, we are stronger when every individual has the opportunity to contribute to our American story. By working to give each person a better chance at success, we can unlock their potential and empower them to serve others in the same way.”

To read the full Presidential Proclamation, click here.

National Mentoring Month Key Dates:

January 12, 2017 – I Am A Mentor Day

January 16, 2017 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

January 17, 2017 – International Mentoring Day

January 19, 2017 – #ThankYourMentor Day

Meet Markees. He’s a former Little from Los Angeles who snagged his first movie role at 15 and became a star at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Little Brother Markees stars in “Morris from America,” which won awards for acting and screenwriting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

When Markees was in sixth grade, he went through a tough time academically. For extra credit, he took a role in the school play. His Big Brother, Matt, saw a stage presence that needed to be nurtured, so they created videos that showed off Markees’ charm and playfulness. They posted them to YouTube, and those videos caught the attention of writer/director Chad Hartigan.

Now, Little Brother Markees, 17, is considering acting as his career. He loved being on set and watching the crew work hard to produce the film.

So what started as a silly video project with his Big Brother might now be his life’s work. “I didn’t even plan on putting it out,” said Big Brother Matt, a professor of economics who also does some comedy work. “It was just going to be for us and friends, but it turned out so good.”

Movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8HY-6F4Y_I

With the final run in San Antonio this September, the Corner Store Country Run wrapped up its third year as a major fundraising event in many markets across the country. The Country Run has been a match activity, a team-building exercise for agency staff and volunteers, and a big fundraiser for the network.

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Note: The Corner Store Country Run also benefits other children’s charities; these graphics reflect only the amount raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Country Run 2016

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To learn more visit www.cornerstorerun.com.

In between catching passes on Sundays and practicing throughout the week, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been one of many celebrities who continues to make time for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

On Giving Tuesday, Brown (number 84) took to social media to push our #BIGgift campaign and kicked off the day by donating $8,400.

Five days later, in his game against the New York Giants, Brown wore a pair of custom white and purple BBBS cleats during the NFL’s #MyCauseMyCleats weekend.

Brown has played a key role in raising awareness of the BBBS brand and enlisting the help of many others to give this holiday season.

He hasn’t been the only celebrity to jump in and help out Big Brothers Big Sisters, either.

Singer Letoya Luckett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David, and singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson also posted on their social media accounts on Giving Tuesday.

Country singer-songwriter Brad Paisley also worked with BBBSA to create a PSA. In it, he asks people to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, because he says he believes in the power of mentoring. In the video, he says, “My life was enriched by the kindness and support of a caring adult who gave me the gift of time.”

Actor Ryan Potter and NBC Nightly News anchor Kate Snow wrapped up Giving Tuesday by showing their support of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Celebrities have helped BBBS put a nice bow on a really big 2016, leading to a 2017 where we can match more Littles with caring adults who can also give the gift of time.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2017 will be revving up soon, but let us not forget 2016 and how the event was fueled by corporate partner Nerium International.

Nerium raised $400,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters through BFKS in 2015 and surpassed its goal of raising $500,000 in 2016.

With less than a month to go, Nerium has already raised over $490,000 through BFKS.

They recently awarded a check to BBBS of Kentuckiana for nearly $30,000, raised from their Louisville Brand Partners.

“What Nerium and its local Brand Partners have accomplished this year is truly exceptional,” says Jeri Swinton, CEO of BBBS Kentuckiana. “We are thankful for their generosity and look forward to continuing to work with a team of individuals who are truly dedicated to the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters.”

Nerium’s fundraising doesn’t stop with Bowl for Kids’ Sake.

In 2016, they have raised $1,166,316 for Big Brothers Big Sisters through Bowl for Kids’ Sake, monthly commission check donations, Lemonade for Littles, Live Happy’s International Day of Happiness, their National Conference sponsorship, and their Get Real Conference Fundraiser.

The corporate partner also continues to be a strong supporter for BBBS on social media.

BBBS looks forward another strong year with Nerium.

Mentoring is not all fun and games – except when we partner with Chuck E. Cheese’s. Our relationship with one of the country’s most popular pizza arcade venues is helping children across the country, not to mention giving matches something fun to do.

During the September Pin-Up Campaign, Chuck E. Cheese’s raised $117,000, the third campaign to generate a six-figure donation. Chuck E. Cheese’s has also challenged employees at local Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurants to become Bigs. Recently, Pierce Bush, CEO of BBBS Lone Star, spoke at Chuck E. Cheese’s town hall meeting to encourage more employees of Chuck E. Cheese’s corporate office to sign up to be Bigs. On December 15, more than 200 Bigs and Littles in the Dallas area attended holiday celebrations at Chuck E. Cheese’s across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

New York’s Statue of Liberty carries a torch of freedom, and now friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters can also carry a light through a limited-edition jewelry line from ALEX AND ANI. Liberty Copper is the limited edition collection that includes 26 pieces (costume and fine), featuring an exact replica of the Statue of Liberty’s torch, all made with original copper from the monument’s centennial restoration. Created in partnership with The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., ALEX AND ANI will encourage consumers to draw inspiration from Lady Liberty, and recognize the light they bring to the world.

ALEX AND ANI will donate 10% for all online orders, excluding CHARITY BY DESIGN© and Licensed Product, placed between September 25, 2016 and December 31, 2016 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Use ALEX AND ANI’s Light Generator to share how you #CARRYLIGHT for your Big or Little.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we know mentoring can impact the mentor as much as the mentee, and that mentoring programs can help families and communities as well. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (BBBSLA) is launching a new program that is sure to change the lives of Bigs, Littles, and their communities. Beyond School Walls, the workplace mentoring program developed and supported by Comcast NBCUniversal, will launch in its 17th market with a new program in Los Angeles.

The new Beyond School Walls at Universal Studios Hollywood is being called “multi-generational.” The innovative mentoring model matches Universal employees with high school students, and those same high school kids mentor elementary school kids. The high-schoolers are both mentor and mentee, Big and Little. A few times per year, all three participants, the Universal Big, his or her Little, and the elementary school Little, will meet and interact together.

The one-on-one mentoring relationships give the students someone to confide in and trust, someone who gives them an extra sense of support. “This results in the students having an improved outlook on life, improved self-confidence, improved self-esteem and improved behavior and academics,” BBBSLA CEO Tiffany Siart says. “This will, in turn, help create strong 10th-grade leaders in the community who will be able to immediately impact the third-graders they will be mentoring.”

Comcast NBCUniversal’s partnership with BBBSA extends beyond support of Beyond School Walls, as their monetary and in-kind donations also help with media support, local and national Board support, and BBBSA’s National Conference.

 

Beachbody Super Trainer Joel Freeman cannot sit still. You won’t catch him lounging in front of the television. He does not play video games. When he was searching for ways to give back to his community, he decided to become a Big Brother. His enrollment specialist asked what kind of kid he wanted to mentor, and his only stipulation was that the child had to be active and curious.

“Maddox is like an 8-year-old me, very active, always ready to go, ready to do something, very inquisitive,” Big Brother Joel says.

The collaboration between Beachbody and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, which netted the organization a $250,000 donation, began in October with a one-day event during which Beachbody users could stream a preview of the new Beachbody workout CORE DE FORCE. For each user who streamed the new MMA-style workout, Beachbody donated $10 to BBBSA. The event and campaign came about partly because of Big Brother Joel’s involvement as a Big Brother with BBBS of Greater Los Angeles.

Working with BBBSA seemed natural, Joel said, because the fitness world has a similar mindset to the mentoring organization. Joel first got involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters to be a positive influence in the life of a child, and he got involved with the fitness industry for a similar reason. “I liked it at as a career choice because it’s so positive,” he says. “People don’t go into a gym to get worse. It’s very positive.”

At one point after they’d been matched, Little Brother Maddox pointed out to Joel that he always seemed to be smiling. “Dude,” Joel said, “there’s no reason not to.”

Maddox is the younger of his single mom’s two children, and he thrives with individual attention. “Little boys between 8 and 12, they’re finding themselves, figuring out who they are,” Joel says. “I’m excited to be part of his life at this time.”

Big Brother Joel and Little Brother Maddox did the CORE DE FORCE workout together with other matches to promote Beachbody’s campaign in support of BBBSA, and they often find new, active things to do together. Soon, Maddox hopes to tag along with Joel to the gym for boxing workouts.

Working hard and staying active are important, but the two most important things Joel wants to impart on Maddox are positivity and respect. “I want to teach him that things may not go your way, but being an eternal optimist helps you wake up every day and keep moving in the right direction,” he says. Growing up in West Texas helped Big Brother Joel develop manners and respect, and he hopes to teach Maddox to have respect as well. “Ultimately, I want people to meet him and be like, ‘Maddox. I like him. He’s a good guy.’”

Check out some of our Bigs and Littles having fun and getting fit.

*Note: The name of Joel’s Little has been changed to protect his privacy.

Our new Bigs in BlueSM program matches law enforcement officers with youth who need mentors and supports them in strong and enduring relationships. One of the goals of the program is fostering connections and understanding in our communities.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross Jr., a spokesman for Bigs in Blue, says he believes that in the same way Bigs always say they get as much out of the mentoring relationship as the Littles do, police volunteers will find a better understanding of the communities in which they serve.

“One of the reasons I’m all-in is because I see how valuable this will be for the law enforcement officers who volunteer to mentor,” Commissioner Ross says. “They too will gain understanding – Bigs in Blue is about building bridges and that’s what we need, especially now.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles is launching their Bigs in Blue program in partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department and the NFL’s L.A. Rams. The LAPD has a goal of recruiting 20 officers to volunteer as Bigs each year of the program, and the L.A. Rams will support the initiative by not only highlighting Bigs in Blue during a home game, but also providing tickets to BBBSLA matches.

In the communities that already have Bigs in Blue programs, teachers and parents have seen how impactful Bigs in Blue matches can be for children. In Milwaukee, for example, Redona Williams, the principal at a school with Bigs in Blue matches, says her students enjoy the time spent with the Bigs in Blue mentors so much that they return to their classes happy and satisfied. “This mentoring time seems to help build their confidence,” she says. “They tend to do better in their classes and are just flourishing, all because someone is paying attention to them.”

Featured in a “Today Show” segment were Big Brother Ryan, a detective, and Little Brother Robert. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia match has had a big impact on both Big and Little.

Little Brother Markel and Big Brother Antoine were matched for one year through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana’s School to Work program at LG&E (Louisville Gas & Electric.) Markel, 17, is a determined go-getter who has a comedic side – he and his Big Brother often provided the comic relief at BBBS events. He is a hard worker, but he knows when to take things less seriously. “He has fun in life,” his mom says.

In August, Markel was named an “Esurance Rising Star Student” and awarded a $5,000 scholarship from Esurance and Minor League Baseball. The partnership awarded scholarships to 14 “Call Up Worthy” students across the country, and the “Rising Stars” were part of on-field ceremonies at their hometown Minor League Baseball stadiums.

This scholarship will be a big help to Little Brother Markel as he moves on to college. As a high school student, he never saw himself as someone who would go on to higher education, but after spending time with Antoine, who is an engineer, he was determined to succeed academically. Without Antoine, Markel says he wouldn’t have gone to college. “I would have been stuck in my shell,” Markel says. The days when he knew he would get to visit with Antoine, he was excited to go to school. He opened up and gained confidence. Markel’s mom says she knows he will excel in college because he’s determined, calm and collected, but also knows how to have fun.

Markel will study computer forensics at Sullivan University. Someday, he would like to open his own business.  

Check out the full list of the 2016 Esurance Rising Star Students here.

Here are five gift ideas that will bring joy this holiday season and do good by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters:

  1. Nordstrom’s Treasure&Bond’s “Washed Tapestry Scarf” or anything from the Treasure&Bond line for men, women, and children. When you shop the Treasure&Bond collection, Nordstrom donates 2.5% of net sales to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
  2. ALEX AND ANI CHARITY BY DESIGN© Big and Little Dipper Set. Through December 31, 2016, ALEX AND ANI will donate 20% of the purchase price of each set sold to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
  3. ALEX AND ANI Liberty Copper, featuring original copper preserved from the centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Through December 31, ALEX AND ANI will donate 10% for all online orders, excluding CHARITY BY DESIGN© and Licensed Product, to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
  4. Give the gift of time: plan a trip to Chuck E. Cheese’s for a child on your list. Experiences are more memorable than things, and you will enjoy playing games and taking a break from being an adult.
  5. What about that person who is impossible to buy for? Donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America or your local agency in honor of them. You’ll feel great knowing you helped out your community, and they’ll feel great knowing they don’t have extra stuff lying around.

January 1 is not only the start of the New Year, it is also the start of National Mentoring Month, when organizations around the country honor mentors and bring awareness to mentoring. Thank Your Mentor Day is January 19, and mentees and former mentees are encouraged to reach out personally or to take to social media to thank their mentors for the influence they have had on their lives. Recently, former Little Brother Mike reached out to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to thank his mentor, Big Brother Doug.

In 1973, Little Brother Mike was 11. He describes himself at that time as having long, stringy, “hippie” hair, and almost no adult supervision. His parents were divorced, and his mom was working hard as a nurse to provide for all five of her kids. Left on their own much of the time, Mike and his siblings skipped school and found mischief around every corner of their Cleveland Heights neighborhood.

“We smoked cigarettes and drank beer or wine,” Mike says. “We were turning into little criminals – terrorizing the neighborhood.” Mike’s mom knew her boys needed an adult role model, so she signed up Mike and his twin brother, Mark, to be Little Brothers through Big Brothers of Greater Cleveland.

Mike was matched with Big Brother Doug, a lawyer. Doug had volunteered to become a Big Brother after talking with a friend. They reflected on how lucky they had been to enjoy good education, stable families, and safe, happy childhoods. “One of us said to the other, ‘why don’t we see if we can do something to help somebody else out?’” Doug says. They became Big Brothers to twins Mike and Mark.

“I remember vividly walking into his house in Cleveland Heights,” Doug says. He saw Mike, Mark, their siblings and friends staring at a television screen that was flashing a test pattern. “Let’s get out of here,” Doug remembers saying. “Let’s do something.”

In the two years they were matched, they went to ball games, had dinner together, and talked about life. Their match ended when Mike’s mom moved the family from Ohio to Pueblo, Colorado, but the effect of the match lasted much longer in Mike’s life. “Once I started high school, something in my brain just clicked into place,” Mike says. “The lessons and advice I learned from Doug followed me to Pueblo. His example as my role model and his continued support through letters helped me mature and realize I was worth something, and that I should make something out of my life.”

From then on, Mike focused on school. He sought out positive after-school activities and graduated high school with plans to go to college. He majored in chemistry, earned his MBA, and climbed the corporate ladder. He married his high school sweetheart. They have a son who is now 17 and in the midst of the college application process. Mike says none of his story would be the same if he hadn’t had a Big Brother.

Mike attributes his son’s success to Doug as well. As a child who grew up with limited guidance and attention, seeing Doug with his family gave Mike a model he could strive for. “The example of a stable family helped,” Mike says. “I knew that was something I wanted one day.”

Doug is proud of both Mike and his son. They still see each other occasionally, when Mike visits Ohio. Doug says his Little Brother and the friendship they built over more than 40 years has given him more than he gave as a volunteer. Mike insists Doug changed his life for the better, forever.

“I’ve told Doug how much I attribute my success in life back to what he did for me as a Big Brother, but he always tells me the same thing – he says I did it on my own,” Mike says. “He’s very humble and wants me to claim the credit, but I already know the truth. I did not get here on my own. None of us ever do.”

This January, many of us will try our best to hit the gym, take more walks, or pull the bike out of the garage to get fit and make good on our resolutions. Your workout will do even more good this year when you join Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Great Big Challenge.

Great Big Challenge is a fun, month-long fitness and fundraising event and supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters this National Mentoring Month. Participants will choose a fitness goal and a fundraising goal that work for them, and get fit while helping make sure more children get matched with caring adult volunteers in the new year.

One of the top Great Big Challenge fundraisers so far, a Big Brother named Phil, says his motivation is his relationship with his Little, Avril. “We’ve spent a lot of time together biking, hiking, wall-climbing, going to baseball/football games – generally hanging out.   This month we are working together to get Avril his first job (his choice).  As a Big it is very rewarding,” Big Brother Phil says. Now, Phil wants to get back into working out. While working on that resolution, he is also spreading the word about Big Brothers Big Sisters and raising money to make sure more Littles like Avril have a Big who will make a difference for them.

Register today at GreatBigChallenge.com, choose your physical challenge — walking, biking, practicing yoga, swimming — any fitness goal that you want to achieve — and your fundraising goal, and get started on your resolutions to get fit and do good.

www.GreatBigChallenge.com