posts categorizedBig Impacts

Growing up in Japan, Big Brother Toru felt lost. The pressure to succeed was overwhelming, and it wasn’t until he came to America that he felt that he had the support of mentors looking out for him. When he became a firefighter, and later a photojournalist, he found people who showed him the path forward. “In each job, I was blessed to have mentors who took me under their wing and guided me through the ups and downs of life and my career,” he says. Toru knew he wanted to make sure he helped someone who was feeling lost like he had, so he signed up to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters. He was matched with Little Brother Javi, who he helped find success not by applying pressure but by providing support.

At the beginning of Boshanna’s senior year, her best friend and her brother were involved in an incident that resulted in their arrest. It hit Boshanna hard. Big Sister Karen remembers it being one of Boshanna’s lowest points. “Boshanna was devastated and depressed,” she says. “She stopped going to school.” For four months, Boshanna didn’t attend school. Even when she faced truancy court, her dedicated Big Sister never lost faith in her. They talked about it, and Big Sister Karen let Boshanna know she was disappointed and that she felt graduating high school was crucial. With a new resolve to succeed both in and out of the classroom, Boshanna returned to school.

Gavin used to lie in bed, crying, because his dad showed no interest in being part of his life. Dealing with the pain of that crowded out everything else. He started struggling with his grades and getting in trouble at school. Gavin’s mom was worried about her son, so one of the resources she turned to was Big Brothers Big Sisters. Gavin was matched with Big Brother Nick, who he met with a big smile. Nick showed up with a set of goals, which turned out to be all their match needed.

Hidden beneath Sophie’s shy demeanor was an artist who just needed help being brought to the surface. Her Big Sister Lynne, turned out be that help, but it didn’t come easy. At first, Lynne struggled to find connection points with Sophie, but after the two began talking about books, the two established trust and respect in their relationship. The two characteristics would prove to be essential as they traveled out of the library and on a story book journey to find Sophie’s inner artist.

Big Brother Geoffrey and Little Brother Michael have enjoyed plenty of adventures over the past three years, but when Michael started struggling with reading comprehension, Geoffrey found offering future adventures could help inspire him.

As a mother of four, a community volunteer, and an attorney, Elizabeth didn’t have a lot of free time. At a Lion’s Club event, she heard a Big Brothers Big Sisters representative speak about the need for volunteers. Hearing about how many children are on the waitlist to get mentors, she was inspired to find the free time to become a Big Sister. When Elizabeth’s first Little Sister graduated high school, their match closed after a successful five years. Elizabeth didn’t want her time as a Big Sister to end, so she signed up again and was matched with Little Sister Alie, who Elizabeth helped become a star in sports and in school.

In 2002, when David signed up to become a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, there was a lot on his mind. Did he have the time? Would he be a good Big Brother? Could an out gay man be accepted as a mentor? Would his Little Brother or the child’s family be uncomfortable with having a mentor who was gay? All these questions swirled in his head. What was not on his mind then was attending the Super Bowl. Back in February, Big Brother David and Little Brother Wesley, who is now 25, were in the stands to watch Nick Foles and the Eagles take on Tom Brady and the Patriots. They won tickets because David submitted an essay to the #CreateChangeContest, and Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, chose David and Wesley’s story as one of the winners. So, they headed to Minnesota together to celebrate their match and take in the Super Bowl.

Alana’s father was raising her alone, when he signed Alana up to become a Little Sister. He thought she needed a positive female role model to help her navigate the rough waters of childhood . When they met Big Sister Sam, Alana and her father thought she was the perfect match, and through her passion and support for Alana, she proved it.

After a childhood where he felt like his mentoring relationships had strings attached, Big Brother Tom set out to show a child they didn’t have to do something exceptional for an adult to care for them. “I wanted to show a child like me that they are deserving of a positive relationship without the pressure of trying to prove oneself,” he says. Tom was matched with Little Brother Samir, and the two hit it off immediately. They both love dogs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and sports. Though Tom became a Big because he wanted to show a child they didn’t have do exceptional things for an adult to care for them, he realized that Little Samir was truly exceptional.

Shyae’s mom signed her up to be a Little because she noticed a negative change in Shyae’s attitude in school and at home. She felt her daughter needed someone to listen to her, give her guidance, and help boost her confidence. Luckily, around this time, a graduate student named Lauren had completed her student teaching and decided she could spend her extra time being a Big Sister. When the two were matched, Lauren and Shyae felt an instant connection. Shyae felt so comfortable around Lauren that she opted to call her “Sissy.” Through match activities, Lauren made an effort to give Shyae new experiences, help her overcome her fears, and explore her interests. Soon Shyae gained the confidence to become an artist, a stylist, an entrepreneur, and so much more.