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Ahead of the NFL’s Virtual Draft on Thursday, April 23, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was proud to support the first ever Virtual BIG Draft to celebrate newly recruited mentors, hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, in partnership with the NFL Inspire Change initiative, the Miami Dolphins FOOTBALL UNITES™ program and Nike.  The event was an opportunity to recognize 100 volunteers (called ‘Bigs’) who have answered the call to become mentors to youth in Miami. Previously scheduled to take place at Hard Rock Stadium, the organizations moved to a virtual format to follow COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to help reduce the spread of the disease.

Earlier this year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the NFL Inspire Change initiative teamed up to launch The BIG Draft, a football-themed volunteer recruitment campaign aimed at inspiring positive adult role models to become mentors to young people (called ‘Littles’). This spring, while NFL teams prepared to select their next generation of players for the NFL Draft, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in communities across the country set out to recruit the next generation of mentors.

The ‘pre-show’ featured the NFL’s Anna Isaacson, SVP, Social Responsibility, along with players sharing their support of the one-to-one mentoring program, including:

• Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
• Rodney McLeod (Philadelphia Eagles)
• Ronnie Harrison (Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Roy Robertson-Harris (Chicago Bears)
• Tim Grunhard (retired Kansas City Chiefs)

To commence The BIG Draft, viewers had the opportunity to hear first-hand draft experiences from Miami Dolphins alumni including Channing Crowder, OJ McDuffie, Dan Marino and Pat Surtain.

Following the stories, Miami Dolphins players including Terrill Hanks, alumni, cheerleaders and staff shared words of motivation as they formally introduced and recognized each Big as a new ‘recruit’ of the Big Brothers Big Sisters team. Although social distancing won’t allow the newest class of Bigs and Littles to meet in person just yet, they will still have the chance to connect virtually and the importance of having a caring adult mentor in their lives, is more important than ever.

In preparation for The Virtual BIG Draft, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, in partnership with the NFL Inspire Change initiative and the Miami Dolphins FOOTBALL UNITES™ also hosted a virtual combine which featured workouts with Fuel Up to Play60 and Q&A’s as an opportunity for communities across the country to interact, connect and learn about healthy lifestyles in a healthy and safe environment with Miami Dolphins players including Walt Aikens, Davon Godchaux and Terrill Hanks, Dolphins alumnus Twan Russell and cheerleaders.

“We are so proud to congratulate these new Bigs for volunteering to mentor a child in their community, especially in light of what our country is facing right now,” said Pam Iorio, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.  “It is wonderful to know their support and friendship will be there, long after this crisis ends. A big thank you to BBBS Miami for finding a way to keep kids connected, and we appreciate the continued support from the Miami Dolphins and the NFL.”

“We knew we couldn’t let the opportunity go by and not find a way to celebrate our new Bigs,” said Gale Nelson, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. “Our staff will ensure that the Bigs and Littles will keep in touch through technology. And we look forward to the time when they will have a chance to meet and enjoy spending time together, whether it’s playing catch or watching their favorite team on the field.”

“Year-round NFL clubs, players, and social justice grant partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America work to inspire change in communities nationwide, reducing barriers to opportunity and uniting people from all walks of life,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL SVP, Social Responsibility. “It is important to continue this critical message during this time of uncertainty and we are excited to join in celebrating the new volunteers who’ve made the decision to become a Big in Miami.”

“The Miami Dolphins in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrated the virtual BIG Draft and Combine to unify and recognize those at the forefront of providing children the tools to realize their potential,” Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications & Community Affairs Jason Jenkins said. “We believe that football unites, and these activities connect with our goal to make South Florida healthier, educated and united.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of North America Coronavirus Task Force

A partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) during this time of crisis

Two national organizations representing hundreds of agencies and thousands of communities across North America, have joined forces to collaborate in support of mentoring relationships that ignite the power, promise, and potential of youth during the coronavirus pandemic.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides mentoring services to youth, ages 5 to young adulthood. BBBSA represents 240 local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in the United States, serving 5,000 communities; BBBSC represents 101 local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in Canada, serving 1,100 communities. The rapid spread of the coronavirus and important measures put in place to reduce the spread of the coronavirus are isolating the young people and families we serve, presenting serious challenges to their financial, emotional, and physical well-being. Across both nations, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are stepping up to keep Littles connected to their Bigs, provide moral support and essential resources to families.

Unfortunately, the ripple effect of the coronavirus and the resulting economic downturn threaten the fundraising channels of local agencies and force cancellations of fundraising events that were critically important to sustain the organizations and continue needed mentoring services and family support. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of North America Coronavirus Task Force will work together to: 1) Identify funding that can be used to save agencies from closing their doors, 2) Align messaging, thought leadership, and best practices for the North American BBBS network and 3) Pursue options for virtual engagement so the strong mentoring relationship continues between the mentor and mentee, as well as provide support for families as needed.

“We are focused on making sure our critical mission will continue in every community,” said Pam Iorio, President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “All of our agencies have been adversely affected by the pandemic and together with BBBS of Canada we will work to ensure our one-to-one mentoring programs can thrive.”

“We continue to encourage the bonds of social interaction, albeit in a new and digital way during these challenging times of social distancing and self-isolation,” said

W. Matthew Chater, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. “We will work together to ensure agencies can continue to provide these essential services and life-changing mentoring relationships for young people through this pandemic.”

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence and improved relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was founded in 1904; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada was established 106 years ago. For more information, visit www.bbbs.org and https://bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/

Members of the 16-person Big Brothers Big Sisters of North American Coronavirus Task Force include:

BBBSA

Gale Nelson – President and CEO, BBBS Miami (Florida)

Amy Kuchta – CEO, BBBS of Southwest Michigan

Kalli Christ – Executive Director, BBBS of Acadiana (Louisiana)

Nichole Turgeon– President and CEO, BBBS of the Midlands (Nebraska)

Darcey Palmer Schultz– BBBS of Central Indiana

Jeremy Foster– CEO, BBBS of Metro Chicago (Illinois)

Betsy Fitzgerald – President and CEO BBBS of the Heart of Georgia

Alicia Guevara– CEO, BBBS New York City (New York)

Beach Pace– CEO, BBBS of Columbia Northwest (Oregon)

Angela Reed Padilla– CEO, BBBS Central New Mexico

Kwame Johnson– President and CEO, BBBS of Metro Atlanta (Georgia)

BBBSC

Gurpreet Lail – President and CEO, BBBS of Calgary (Alberta)

Leanne Nicolle – President and CEO, BBBS of Toronto (Ontario)

Victor Roman – Executive Director, BBBS of Regina and Area (Saskatchewan)

Nick Sharpe – Executive Director, BBBS of Colchester (Nova Scotia)

Susan Ingram – Executive Director, BBBS of Ottawa (Ontario)

We sit at a coffee shop and check our emails, go to work with colleagues and friends, attend our child’s baseball game, show up at a school function, shop for groceries, eat dinner at a restaurant, walk with neighbors, and pick-up our dry-cleaning.  All of this and more was part of the daily structure of our lives, upended by the coronavirus. In this previous life, you may have noticed the adult with a child at the ballpark together or sitting outdoors at a café eating ice cream. You see, the adult was a volunteer mentor whom we call a “Big” and the young person we serve called a “Little.” Together they are a “Match” – our term for a mentoring relationship between a caring adult volunteer and a young person.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.  This mission is brought to life in all 50 states, in thousands of communities. Big Brothers Big Sisters is fueled by dedicated staff and volunteers serving incredible young people.

But what happens to that mission when we are asked to stay at home, to keep 6 feet from one another, and events across the country are cancelled?  What happens to these established relationships and to the tens of thousands of youth in America who were waiting to be matched?  Our organization’s commitment to these Matches and this all-important social connection has been challenged like never before. As necessary measures have been put in place to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, our daily routines are changing. Our personal interactions have become limited and this creates a considerable amount of anxiety.

Should I share what is happening at BBBS when you are faced with your personal challenges and concerns because of the coronavirus?  I’ve thought about this each day, and ultimately decided, yes, I have an obligation to share.

I have an obligation because I know these young people. Born with potential, each has opportunities to grow up and become productive and positive members of our society. But I have seen the barriers firsthand.  The poverty and dangerous neighborhoods.  The struggles within families of substance abuse. The lack of a role model to show a different path.  The loneliness and bullying that is so often experienced.

And I have seen the difference the Big makes. The friend to talk with.  A guiding force. Someone to turn to when life becomes harsh. Someone to defend the potential inherent in every young person.

While we put our own families, friends, and livelihood first, I also ask that we remember the most vulnerable among us, our children. Every Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the country needs your support. Fundraisers have been cancelled and leaders are looking for ways to sustain their critical mission.  The families of the children we serve will be some of the hardest hit during the pandemic and economic downturn that may last much longer.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been part of the fabric of this country since 1904. That longevity means we have weathered many storms. It means that at our very core our organization, our volunteers and the families and young people we serve are resilient and strong.

Please consider making a gift today to Big Brothers Big Sisters at bbbs.org. You can give to your local agency through this website or give to the National Office which offers support to all agencies across the country.

With your help and caring, we will come through this.#keepkidsconnected

Pam Iorio

President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Non-profits are social good businesses, delivering essential services to communities.  Big Brothers Big Sisters makes life changing matches between an adult volunteer (a “Big”) and a young person (a “Little”). Our one-to-one mentoring model has been affected drastically by the coronavirus and the restrictions that have been placed on our daily interactions. The need still exists, and the families of our Littles are some of the hardest hit by the economic effects of the coronavirus. When Congress acts to provide assistance to small businesses, let’s make sure non-profits are included. We have joined forces with 20 other national non-profits to request assistance, click here to read more about this important message and we urge you to contact your local members of Congress to express your support.

Together, Let’s #InvestInKids

Joining Forces to Expand Support for Youth Programs Across the Country 

We’ve teamed-up with 12 of the nation’s leading youth programs to launch Be a Champion, #InvestInKids to raise awareness and increase support for youth programs across the country. Every day, these programs reach millions of kids across the U.S. and make a positive impact in their communities and the world around them. Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters connect the next generation to opportunities for play, adventures, education, skill development, leadership, service and more, helping young people make friends, give back to their communities and build self-confidence. All of these programs enable young people to learn about themselves and build a strong foundation for a healthy, productive life. These programs and our nation’s youth need champions. Every adult has the opportunity to be a champion for youth in their lives and in their communities. We invite you to be one of those champions. Apply to become a big with an agency near you today!

The Be a Champion, #InvestInKids campaign is funded through generous support from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. Participating organizations include, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Camp Fire, Coaching Corps, Girls Inc., National 4H Council, Nature Bridge, Outward Bound, Playworks, Positive Coaching Alliance, the Student Conservation Association and the YMCA. 

In honor of International Mentoring Month Comcast released an article about mentorship and the great impact it can have on communities. Scroll down to read the article or click here.

Once a month, Comcast employee Steven Greene gets in his car and drives two hours to have lunch with 16-year-old Micah, a student he mentors at our company’s Jacksonville, Fla. regional office. He doesn’t mind the drive, and December’s meeting was especially worth it – he got to witness Micah’s big smile when he was gifted a free iPad. “Surprises like this are what make the commitment even more special,” Steven said.

In fact, Micah was one of 26 high school students that day to receive free iPads from Comcast NBCUniversal as part of our Beyond School Walls program, run in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. The program enables employee “Bigs” to provide student “Littles” with one-to-one mentoring at Comcast offices – where the students also get to experience a professional working environment. The iPads are part of Comcast’s larger focus on closing the digital divide. We believe that success starts with opportunity, and in today’s digital world, we are working to provide everyone, regardless of income, with equal access to technology and the chance to gain vital digital skills.

“Mentoring has a deeper purpose for me,” said Steven, who grew up in a low-income neighborhood himself and now helps to improve operational efficiencies as part of Comcast’s Vendor Management team.  One of his high school teachers, he said, pushed him to take honors classes – support that changed the trajectory of his life. “I can give counsel and advice, but just being able to relate to someone and say, ‘I understand where you are coming from’ makes the relationship so unique and special.”

The pair plan to do a series of digital literacy activities during Beyond School Walls over the next few months. Michael told Steven he can use his iPad whenever they meet and at home to build a foundation for his future – hopefully working in real estate to support his dream of writing comic books.

In total this year, more than 300 “Littles” across 14 Comcast locations received iPads that they might not have been able to otherwise afford. They’ll gain increased access to tech at home and more opportunities to learn digital skills, as well as a chance to explore their own creativity.

According to the Pew Research Center 35 percent of teens say they often or sometimes have to do their homework on their cellphone. This is more prevalent among lower-income teens, including 45 percent who live in households earning less than $30,000 a year.

Activities that our Beyond School Walls matches across the country are working on include:

• Learning iPad basics from an IT employee including how to create an email and download apps
• Playing Google Interland, a game designed to teach Internet safety topics such as phishing, harassment and passwords through puzzles, challenges and quizzes
• Bringing the iPads on field trips and taking pictures to be historians for the group
• Discussing examples of a range of personalities on social media and who is a “friend” or “foe”
• Exploring how to use LinkedIn with insight from HR employees, and more

More than 1,200 Comcast NBCUniversal employees have participated in the Beyond School Walls program since its inception more than 10 years ago at our Philadelphia headquarters. For the school children enrolled in Beyond School Walls, being matched with a “Big” introduces them to brighter futures, careers and possibilities. And employees report that the relationship positively impacts their own lives as well – citing the program as one of the top reasons they love coming to work.

“You learn a lot about our youth and how advanced they are, and you learn a lot about yourself,” Steven says. “It makes me appreciate what I have and makes me want to give back more when I see the benefit – if I could have more than one Little I would!”

A Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee match was recently featured on ‘Humans of New York’! Big Brother Adam and Little Brother Brandon each share their match story below.

“I’d just started grad school in Tennessee. I was a little lonely, so I might have been looking for some familial bonds. But I actually got the idea from an episode of West Wing. One of the main characters was a Big Brother. So I did a quick Google search, and found that the East Tennessee chapter was one of the strongest in the country. What really prompted me to join was learning that the little brother list is much longer than the little sister list. The organization gave me a personality test, and I got matched with Brandon. He was extremely shy. I had no idea what to do. In the beginning there was a lot of silence. And whenever he did talk, I’d just say: ‘I get that, I get that.’ After a few days of that, he told me: ‘Thanks for trying to get me.’ Soon Brandon became my best friend in Knoxville. And I think I shared that title for a little while– until he got older and met more friends. Food was a big part of our friendship. We always went to Shoney’s. I still have a picture of the first time we went. He filled half his plate with red jello, and the other half with chicken nuggets. I focused a lot on his academics. I’m a big school nerd, so that was my comfort zone. We did a lot of homework together. I wasn’t aiming for him to get A’s. I was just aiming for a feeling of progress. His improvement at school was huge. He even got ‘The Turnaround Award’ in 8th Grade. That was such a big moment for both of us. We’ve come a long way since then. Now we’re looking for the right college.”

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“I’d just turned twelve. I think Dad realized that I needed somebody in my life. He was working two jobs so I never had anyone to talk to. Mom wasn’t around. Middle school was a complete disaster. I had no friends and was getting bullied tons. Then one day I came home from school, and Dad was home—which was shocking, because he normally worked until 9 pm. And he introduced me to this guy. I had no clue who he was. He said his name was Adam, and that he was my ‘Big Brother,’ and he was going to help me. But I had no clue what that meant. I just thought it was a friend of my dad’s or something. We were only supposed to meet two times a month. But it ended up being more like three times a week. He helped me study. I could call him whenever I felt sad. And he helped me with my anger outbursts. Whenever I was having a bad day, we’d go to a bridge near his house and throw a bunch of rocks in the creek. He helped me so much over the years. Even after he moved to New York, I was able to do the last two years of high school by myself. He promised me that if I graduated with all B’s, he’d fly me up to New York for a visit. Well I did better than that. I graduated with all A’s and B’s.”

Click here to read these stories on the Humans of New York Facebook page.

Big Brothers Big Sisters defends, inspires and ignites the potential of youth every day. But for every child who has been paired with a caring adult mentor, there are those still waiting their turn: 30,000 children across the country, in communities like yours, have raised their hand to say they want a Big. Join Big Brothers Big Sisters and be a part of a one-to-one revolution to change two lives.

If you have a passion to help kids, consider becoming a Big today! Just a few hours a month can make an impact on the life of a child—and the experience will make an impact on you, as a volunteer, too. Share this video on your social media platforms to encourage others to be a Big. Simply click here, type in your zip code and we’ll connect you with the Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in your neighborhood.

It’s time. Become a Big today.

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Sera Hill, an employee with Starbucks, and her little sister Seanna have been matched for over 3 years now in the community-based mentoring program at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound.

Seanna is 13 years old. Sera and Seanna like to get out and about and do active things, they both love animals as well. In Seattle to visit museums, participate in pottery activities, go to the movies and participate in other programs through the Y. They really hit it off from the beginning and quickly established a bond.

In addition to Sera being a community-based Big Sister, she has also helped the BBBS agency to coordinator career days for their MentorU program, an online based mentoring initiative.  Sera has helped set up activities so other students can see behind the scenes and learn about different careers within Starbucks.

In a recent visit to Starbucks HQ on “Take Your Kid to Work Day”, Seanna and Sera enjoyed the behind the scene tours and connection with other co-workers and visiting youth.  Before the visit, Seanna wanted to pursue being a nurse, but was inspired by the Tryer Innovation Lab and left her experience at Starbucks wanting to pursue a future in graphic design. 

Sera is thrilled at this friendship and how it is changing them both.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Starbucks Foundation are uniting this holiday season to support matches all across the county like Sera and Seanna.  When you donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America between December 1-31, 2019, The Starbucks Foundation will double your gift, matching up to $200,000 this Giving Season.

More Littles will have a chance to have a Big of their own, thanks to new funding from the Department of Justice.

Principal Deputy Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Katharine Sullivan visited Tampa, FL to announce the $10.75M in funding to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. This will impact 95 agencies across 42 states. Many of those Big/Little matches are part of the Bigs in Blue program, which started in 2016 as a national initiative to help break down barriers and build relationships between officers and the communities they serve.  

Tampa Police Officer Joel McKee meets with his Little Brother, 10-year-old Princeton at Pizzo Elementary School. Officer McKee says it’s the highlight of his week—during their time together, it’s not police officer/student, but a chance for him to just be ‘Joel’. “We are proud and privileged to receive these funds, “ said Pam Iorio, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “With these mentoring dollars, we expect to serve at least 6,000 Big/Little matches. When we make a match, they tend to last at least 30 months. But we know from experience, these matches can last a lifetime.”