Rob and Tony Do TV

Rob Evans is an amazing person. He actually knew he wanted to be a big brother when he was growing up. It seems he was the youngest of six kids so he experienced all the great things that happen when you have all those older siblings. There’s always someone willing to talk, to share, to throw a ball, or to just hang around with. At a young age Rob knew he wanted to a Big Brother some day.

Eventually Rob became a TV personality. He’s a very successful newscaster. And then it happened. One day he woke up and realized he was all grown up. (happens to all of us) He could be that Big Brother he always dreamed about so, what did he do? (this is an easy question) He contacted his local agency, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks, in Springfield, Missouri, and became a Big and then met Tony and it happened: he was now Big Brother Rob.

Tony and his mother had moved to a new town. It was far from all the men in Tony’s life: a sometimes present father, some uncles and cousins, even friends of the family. His very wise mother knew that Tony needed, as she says “some kind of testosterone in his life.” We all know that what she meant was he needed us, Big Brothers Big Sisters. (at least the Big Brothers half!) So she talked to us and next thing you know Big Rob and Little Tony are best buds.

Actually, it took awhile. At first Tony was a little nervous. But Rob persevered (as you all do) and soon was taking Tony golfing and bowling and to plays and they were playing basketball and eating everything in sight. It turns out they both like to eat. Really eat. They actually have pizza eating contests! So far Rob is undefeated in pizza eating but Tony is gaining on him so one of these days ...

They are now brothers. It is so wonderful how they support each other. Again in the words of Tony’s mom, “I think if Tony said he wanted to walk on the moon Rob would try and make it happen.” This is so wonderful. As a matter of fact, Big Brother Rob has written the most wonderful short story about what it means to be a Big and have such a great relationship with a Little. You can read it at The Joys of Being a Big.

And what about being on TV mentioned in the title you’re probably wondering. Well, we mentioned that Big Brother Rob is a TV newscaster. It seems he wanted to do something for all young folks looking for a Big so he created an eye-catching public service announcement featuring Tony. How cool is that? Tony on TV recruiting more Bigs to help more Littles. Wow.

They’ve had so many adventures and good times that we could go on forever. But for now, let’s just say that it all leads to one beautiful result: they’ve become family. So it’s fitting to end with Tony’s own words: “I’m not so lonely anymore. I would like Rob to be my Big Brother for a long time.”