Shanay and Karen

Shanay’s mom, Charlene, is a single parent, working full-time and going to school to make a better life for her daughter, who is now in tenth grade. Charlene knows the difference a Big Sister can make and feels Shanay’s match with Karen has been great from day one. “We’ve been matched for more than five years and we have both grown through our experiences together. Shanay is becoming a sincere, independent and caring young woman. We enjoy taking photos of our outings and keep a scrapbook to display all of those great memories of our time together, from the first time we met,” said Karen. 

Austin and Tim

“I refer to our household as multicultural. We (parents) are hearing impaired and Austin is not. Austin needs a mentor from the hearing-world, who can teach him things and get into his head,” noted Austin’s father. For Tim, a firefighter, being a Big to Austin is rewarding in many ways. "Austin has been matched with me since 2004 and we are comfortable talking to each other. He thinks having a Big is cool and enjoys it when we visit the fire station. I feel like part of his family and I’m thinking about taking sign language to better communicate with his parents. As an eighth grader, Austin is such a positive and strong young man who learns from life experiences,” said Tim. 

Sarah and Tara

Big Sister Tara has been matched with Little Sister Sarah for nearly seven years. For Sarah, who recently graduated high school, Tara is part of her extended family and someone she wants to be part of her life after they leave the program. “Becoming a Big to Sarah has been an experience that I will never forget. She has taught me so much. Sarah is such an important part of my life and we developed a strong bond that is sure to last,” stated Tara.

Terrell and Packy

“Terrell and I went out on Sunday for three hours and had a very nice time. I took him to my work (Malley’s Chocolates) to show him where it is and so he could see the inside of a chocolate factory. Then we went to the Cuyahoga Valley National recreation area so he could see the biggest waterfall in Cleveland. He has a great personality and I look forward to mentoring him and having a good time with him,” stated Big Brother Packy.

Sabrina and Missy

Many corporate partners provide funding and encourage employees to become volunteers. New York Life Insurance is one of those companies and Missy is one of those employees dedicated to making a difference. "Missy is a wonderful Big to have. She is part of our family," said Sabrina. “I’ve been matched with Sabrina since 2002 and cannot imagine my life without her. We talk a couple times each week and enjoy doing a variety of fun activities,” said Missy. Sabrina is now in the ninth grade.

John and Jeff

Little Brother John is so excited about his match with Jeff that he waits anxiously outside his home to for his Big Brother to arrive. “He’s the greatest big brother I’ve ever had and the only big brother I’ve had,” said John, a sixth grader who has been matched for over one year. “This is my third match and being a Big to John is a real joy. As with my previous matches, I find it a great way to stay connected with our youth and to stay young in general. As an added bonus, it gets me into kid’s movies without feeling self-conscious,” stated Jeff.

When asked to share his favorite thoughts about the match, John said “going to places I may not have ever gone is really neat.” Jeff echoed the thought by simply saying, “we’re having fun.” Jeff has attended John’s baseball and basketball games as well as John’s Christmas concert where he saw John play the viola and met his teacher. Jeff and John also visited Hoop City courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters and have enjoyed a couple of Cavs and Indians games. At one of the Indians' games, Big Brothers Big Sisters, in conjunction with Blue for Kids, arranged for John and Jeff to meet the umpires and pepper them with questions. Finally, in attempting to take refuge from both the cold weather and some very bad football, Jeff took John to his office after attending a Browns’ game. "John thought it was really cool to sit in my chair and was really impressed by all the neat stuff you get at work. I didn’t realize how much neat stuff I had until John put it in perspective for me. The next morning, sitting in my office chair, I experienced a feeling of cool that I never knew was there before," said Jeff.

De’Jha and Shena

“This is the most perfect match and it’s everything I hoped for. Sometimes the simple things are the most fun, like hanging out and eating chocolate. It’s been rewarding to see De’Jha blossom into a young lady,” said Shena. De’Jha is in tenth grade and has been matched with Shena for five years. Her mom stated, “Shena is just like a real sister and offers wisdom. This is a terrific match and the relationship just gets stronger.” 

Curtis and Peter

Matched for just over six years, Peter and Little Brother Curtis, a ninth grader, love to joke around and feed off each other’s personality. “Peter is like a real brother. He’s caring, encourages me to do well in school and helped me adjust to fears,” said Curtis. “I’m happy to be involved as a Big and participate in BBBS fundraisers. It is especially rewarding to see Curtis improve as a person. We discuss the importance of respect, self-confidence and enjoy many activities,” stated Peter. Curtis’ mom believes Peter has been a terrific mentor and friend, going above and beyond to really make a difference in her son’s life.  

Sierra and Tonya

“One day, I closed my eyes and thought back to when I was a child. I remembered all the people who brought a little magic into my life, just by being there. That’s why I knew I wanted to be a Big Sister,” stated Tonya. Sierra, a high school junior, is Tanya’s Little Sister. Sierra’s dream is to be the first in her family to graduate from college. She hopes to become an actor or psychiatrist. Recently, Sierra and Tonya decided to participate in Relay for Life, a community fundraising event which meant a great deal to Tonya personally. A family situation arose and Tonya was not able to participate, but Sierra decided to go on the walk on behalf of the both of them. “Being a Big Sister has changed my life forever. Sierra proudly refers to me as her sister. Our special bond cannot be broken and will last forever,” added Tonya.

Maurice and Dennis

“Maurice and I are one and the same,” explains Big Brother Dennis. “From day one, six years ago, we have been on the same page and have always complemented each other. Our backgrounds are similar and I can understand how he feels.”

LaDonte and Brian

“I had it easy as a child and wanted to become a Big to help someone who might not have the opportunity to do some of things I did, like go to a basketball game. This experience has been fun and I am getting more out of my match with LaDonte than I ever anticipated,” stated Brian. LaDonte and Brian have been matched for over 14 months.

LaKiesha and Sarah

“You never know what a Little will teach you. I went from practicing law to being a freelance writer, doing stories on everything from food to travel. LaKiesha is a high school student who is into the arts. Our discussions cover everything, family, work, politics, and writing,” stated Big Sister Sarah. LaKiesha said, “We enjoy swimming, shopping and going to movies together. Sarah is like family. I trust her and she is supportive.” Sarah added, “We learned so much from each other. LaKiesha is now more outgoing and discovering more about herself. I learned to be more patient, positive, loving, and aware.” LaKiesha was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the KSU diversity workshop in journalism and an urban journalism workshop at JCU.