At the 2009 Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference in Miami, we honored Ben De Leon as Big Brother of the Year. The “Bigs of the Year” are long-term mentors whose volunteer service exemplifies how our volunteer mentoring network improves the odds for more than 255,000 of America’s most vulnerable children. Ben lives in Austin, Texas and has been matched with his now 10-year-old Little Brother, Anthony, for three years.

Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery

(Click here to skip ahead to our video of Ben and Anthony)

Ben De Leon carries around two letters in his briefcase.  One of those letters changed his life forever, and the other reaffirmed how he has changed a young boy’s life. 

“He’s just one of the coolest people I’ve ever met,” says 10-year-old Anthony of his Big Brother.  When the pair met through a mentoring program at Anthony’s elementary school, their connection was instant and profound. In May 2006, Ben received Letter No. 1 — Anthony’s grandmother asked Ben to sign up with Big Brothers Big Sisters to become Anthony’s official Big Brother.

“I quickly realized that my own story, as a Hispanic man who has graduated college and law school, was at once unfamiliar, yet important, to Anthony,” Ben explained. “It became a priority for me to share my educational journey with him, so that he understood his potential had no bounds.”

Wearing matching orange Longhorn t-shirts, Ben takes Anthony on visits to the University of Texas and talks frequently about his time in college.  He helps Anthony with his school work and reiterates the message that Anthony needs to concentrate and take his time to achieve good grades if he wants to attend college some day.

Ben has also welcomed Anthony as a part of his family.  With the absence of his parents, Anthony is being raised by his grandparents, but as his grandmother wrote in her letter to Ben: “His grandfather has arthritis, and he is unable to do any outdoor activities with him. Anthony needs someone in his life right now to lead him in the right direction. Grandpa is leading him there, but with your inspiration, it would help more.” Or as Anthony more simply puts it: “I don’t have my dad in my life, and Ben is able to show me the things a dad should show a son.”

And this is when Ben received his second letter that he carries with him to and from work each day. At his 30th birthday party, Anthony wrote him a heartfelt thank you letter, detailing all the ways that Ben impacts his life on a day-to-day basis and inspires him to do great things far into the future. He thanked his Big Brother for their special friendship, the time they spend together, and for the unconditional love he receives from Ben and his family. Anthony concluded his birthday letter by writing: “I could go on about our friendship, but that would take a lot of paper.”

At this point, Ben realized that he was learning far more from Anthony than he could ever teach his Little Brother. Ben grew up in an affluent section of town with parents who were involved in his life.  As he began to fill in the gaps in Anthony’s life, Ben realized that not everyone is as lucky. 

“Every time we are together, I have the opportunity to practice patience, love and tolerance, and I am humbled by this role,” Ben says.  “Every time I drop him off after an outing, he hugs and thanks me, which makes me feel 10-ft tall, even if for just a moment.”