Jackie Jack, Parent of Little Brothers Darell and Tyrell

Just wanted to let you know that the matches are going great. My little guys really love and enjoy being with their big brothers. I knew that these guys would become a part of our lives, kinda like distant friends that would come by, pick up the boys, do their thing, then drop them off -- just to say that they have fulfilled their obligation for the week (or whenever). Boy, was I wrong! These guys have become not only a part of our family, but they are family. My kids look forward to spending time with their matches. These matches have completely changed our lives tremendously. With all my good intentions as a good mom, trying to do things with and for my boys had become very limited and unsuccessful for myself and the kids. But, when the matches came along, that all changed.

Darell, a hyper-active, very depressed kid, who was always getting in trouble at school, fighting and misbehaving, was always sad with very low self-esteem and no confidence in himself. His match, Westin, spent a lot of time with him letting him know that he is important, and if his fighting and misbehaving was a way to get attention----that wasn't the way. He told him there were other positive ways and things he could do to get the attention he needed. The two of them did many things he liked doing. His Big Brother took him places he thought he would never go and did things he thought he could never do. Now, he sees things differently. He smiles more and is a much happier person.

Tyrell, is shy and smart, but didn't like to apply himself. There's a program called, "Rainier Scholars," that picks academically high skilled students to participate in a very intense learning program along with their regular schooling for 14 months, then from there, stays with that student until he has graduated from college. Tyrell wanted to try out the testings that would qualify him, but was afraid to. His match, Phil, helped him to understand all that he could gain from this and helped him build his confidence and encouraged him to go for it and that he could do it if he wanted to. Tyrell took the tests and now he is accepted into the program, which starts immediately after this school year is out, in June. Now, he's excited and anxious to get started.

These Big Brothers not only spend quantity time with my boys, they spend a lot of quality time with them, not to mention all the joy and happiness they have brought to my home and to our lives. "They are happy and I am happy!"

Thanks for sending these 2 guardian angels to us at the time we needed them the most. You could not have chosen any 2 better matches for us even if you tried.

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