In our lives, each of us shared an important connection with someone who broadened our horizons and brought a little magic into our lives.
It was the person who taught you to throw that perfect spiral, or sat in the front row to cheer you on, even when it was embarrassing. These are the little moments that Big Brothers and Big Sisters experience every day.
These real life stories are just a few of the ways Big Brothers Big Sisters is changing lives and communities forever.
For Zoro the Drummer, a Life Transformed by Mentoring
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Through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Zoro says, “a great many lives have been positively impacted, mine among them, demonstrating how seeds sown in love will bear fruit for subsequent generations. None of my success would be possible without the vision of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.” |
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Introducing the 2008 Big Sister of the Year
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Since meeting eight years ago, 2008 Big Sister of the Year Miriam and Little Sister Arleth have had amazing adventures together and have become great friends. And we have the video to prove it! |
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A 'Little' Star is Born
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"I think if Tony said he wanted to walk on the moon Rob would try and make it happen,” says Little Brother Tony's mother of Big Brother Rob. |
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Little Brother Russell Lands in College
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Seeing how successful Mario is has inspired Russell to raise his expectations. He has stayed in school, graduated, and just finished his Freshman year in college. |
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An Unbelievable Big Brother
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NBA Star scores both on and off the court. |
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Dennis Begins It All and Now Leads It All
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Forty years ago, Dennis was the very first Little Brother in the entire state of Hawaii. Dennis used that experience to grow into quite a leader, now serving as the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu. |
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Are you Big enough to be a kid again?
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One day Annette was walking down the hallway of a local school and noticed this beautiful little girl walking past her. How did she come to be in this school? Well, we’re glad you asked. It seems that Annette had found herself with some free time (later we’ll share how this happened). She wanted to fill up this time by having some fun and helping someone else. So what did she do? And how did this happen? Well …
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Bryon and Edward Blow it Up
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Byron wanted to get involved in personally helping a young person succeed. So he came to the best place he could think of, Big Brothers Big Sisters (but you knew that) and signed up. Byron wound up being matched with Edward as part of our site based program. And that led to Byron teaching Edward to Blow It Up (as odd as that sounds for Big Brothers Big Sisters activity). |
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Little Brother Frank Found More Than a Friend — He Found His Potential
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There was a time when Frank never would have seen himself going to college. Never would have had the dreams he has today. What made the difference? The encouragement, guidance and friendship of Michael, his Big Brother through the school-based mentoring program. |
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For Marj and Sandra, Sisterhood is Powerful … and Fun!
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“At first I thought I’d just be helping some girl,” says Marj, “but now I feel like Sandra really is my sister. I feel so lucky that she’s in my life. Now when people ask me how long I plan to be a Big Sister, I tell them ‘Forever!’ |
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A Hobby that’s Timeless, a Friendship that’s Ageless
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Wilbur was 79 when he volunteered to be a Big Brother. It wasn’t long before he found out there was a third-grader looking for someone just like him — someone who could help him “build stuff.” For five wonderful years, that’s what Wilbur and Little Brother have been doing: building birdhouses, building toys, and building a friendship that means an awful lot to both of them. |
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Crystal Rivera is our 2007 Big Sister of the Year!
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“We just do the things other sisters do,” says Big Sister Crystal of her relationship with Little Sister Ariana Melendez, “like shopping, dinner, movies and just having fun.” It sounds like such a simple formula! But when you look at what a difference their friendship has made in Ariana, who has gained so much happiness and confidence in their three years together, it becomes “crystal clear” that this Big Sister is something special.
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Chuck Matthews, 2007 Big Brother of the Year
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Rico Johnson is happy his Big Brother Chuck has received the Big Brother of the Year award. But he didn’t need anyone else to tell him how special his Big Brother is. For years Rico lacked confidence because he felt no one believed in him. Chuck came into his life and told him “you should expect more from yourself — I do.” Confidence is contagious and now Rico figures there’s nothing he can’t do! |
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Kellan and Richard learn the FUN-damentals of School-Based Mentoring!
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Richard needed a good male role model in his life. He found one in Big Brother Kellan, who spends a fun hour with him every week. Today Richard is doing better in school and feeling much better about himself. They have a great time together, and Kellan loves seeing all the progress Richard has made. “He is a natural leader!” Kellan says. |
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"He is my brother."
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From special class to head of the class, from high school to graduate school, Big Brother CJ and Little Brother Marton have been helping each other hit the books, but both have learned more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. They have learned to be brothers. |
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"Being a Big Brother is a Powerful Thing"
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It's hard to look at 15-year-old Jose and imagine him 10 years ago. And it's even harder to see this smiling, confident young man, and know all the tough times he's been through. What got Jose through? One big factor was just knowing he had a friend he could count on: his Big Brother Pablo, his Big Brother for a decade - and his friend forever. |
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The Best Way to Honor a Mentor … Is to Be a Mentor!
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Nothing makes Big Brother Dennis more proud than when he hears his Little Brother, Maurice, say that when he grows up, he wants to be a mentor, too!
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“Just the right time” for a friend
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Ray knew he was at a crossroads, and the choices he made would affect his life. |
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“The Best Big Brother Anyone Could Hope For!”
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For Anthony, the first step was learning to trust his new Big Brother Matt … the second step was learning to trust himself, and all he could do. Today Anthony says “I can do anything with my life,” and Matt believes it, too. He’s seen the changes in his Little Brother! |
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A Beautiful Friendship for Aften and Amanda
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It's no wonder Aften seems so poised and confident. She's had a great mentor! Aften's Big Sister Amanda is this year's Miss Georgia, and on January 27, 2007, she'll compete in the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas! |
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Joe and Ka'Mare are Going Places!
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Since becoming Ka’Mare’s Big Brother, Joe has taken him for trips to the science museum and to the park for basketball games. Then this fall, thanks to the “Step Up to the Plate” campaign sponsored by Holiday Inn, they got the chance to take a “once in a lifetime” trip — to the World Series! |
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Growing friendship, growing confidence!
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When you know someone else feels good about you, you start to feel better about yourself. That's one secret to how Big Sister Nancy has helped Little Sister Demry become more self-assured. |
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Bruce and Elijah Step Up to the Plate
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During this year's World Series no one will be cheering more enthusiastically than Bruce and Elijah. Thanks to the “Step Up to the Plate” campaign sponsored by Holiday Inn, the official hotel of Major League Baseball, they'll be enjoying all the action from up close … with Elijah serving as an honorary bat boy! |
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Learning to be a man
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"He has taught me life’s lessons," says Jeremy of Big Brother Sylvester. |
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"An Awesome Experience!"
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"The truth is that the return is WAY bigger than the investment,” says Big Brother David of the time he spends with Flavio. |
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