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Big Brother David was looking to give back to his new home of Dayton, Ohio. David signed up to be a Big Brother in 2004 and was matched with Little Brother Griffin. Griffin was a normal six-year-old boy who was very energetic, outspoken and had a great sense of humor. His mom had always been there for him, but she found that Griffin wanted someone to do “guy stuff” with who wasn’t his mom. Griffin wanted someone to teach him about sports, play video games, go on adventures, and build Legos. What Griffin found through his Big Brother was a role model, friend and brother.

Early in their match, Big Brother David brought his new Little Brother to an event that Senator John Kerry was hosting. They had the opportunity to meet the Senator and even take a picture. Shortly after the event was over, Little Brother Griffin looked to his Big Brother and said, “It was great meeting John Kerry, but I’m still voting for George Bush.” Here David saw that his new Little Brother was not afraid to speak his mind and this proved to be a key moment as their relationship grew stronger. Big Brother David also makes sure that he is working closely with Griffin’s mom in supporting and encouraging Griffin.

Their outings often include baseball games, theater and concerts, go-kart racing, whitewater rafting, but on top of all, they really enjoy simply spending time together. Their relationship has not come without its challenges, as Little Brother Griffin is a loyal Ohio State fan and Big Brother David is from Michigan. However, they have found some middle ground in supporting the University of Dayton’s men’s basketball team. One day, they are hoping to visit the Big House in Ann Arbor or the Horseshoe in Columbus to experience a University of Michigan vs. Ohio State football game.

Through all of their adventures these past 11 years, Big Brother David mentioned that he has seen his Little Brother grow in “his willingness to take responsibility for his actions, his ability to not accept the status quo, his learning good decision-making practices, and his talent for continuing to seek out the most appropriate course of action.” They share a mutual respect and admiration based on trust, confidence and constantly growing the friendship. The experience of being a Big Brother has brought David closer to his own family, especially his daughters, as he is gaining a new perspective of new pressures and impact the changes of technology has had on young individuals. Griffin’s mom has been very appreciative of what David has provided his son. “David has not only been a tremendous mentor to my son, but he has become an incredible friend to me and an extended member of our family.”

As a professional who travels to Washington, D.C., every week, Big Sister Christine wanted a way to connect with someone who she could guide regardless of where she was. When she signed up to be a Big Sister, she wanted someone who had a different view on the world than she did. She was matched with Little Sister Florence. Like many matches, they were nervous during their first meeting, but soon realized that they had great potential. “The first day I met her I didn’t know if I would like her, but I started to quickly,” mentioned Little Sister Florence.

Through the five years that they have been matched, they have had their ups and downs. One challenge Big Sister Christine faced was watching her Little Sister, Florence, deal with life situations that would change her life forever, such as when Florence would be placed into foster care. Big Sister Christine was steadfast through the multiple home relocations during that time, and was a consistent guiding force in her life. Christine even drove hours just to see her Little Sister for an hour. Big Sister Christine stated, “My only goal at that time was to show her that friends stay with friends when the going gets rough.”

Big Sister Christine worked to understand things that her Little Sister enjoyed doing, such as singing and swimming, and would help her practice. It was through these types of activities that Little Sister Florence started to break out of her comfort zone and explore new opportunities. They also enjoy going to the movies, going shopping, talking about hair and makeup, as well as working on schoolwork together. Through the countless hours they have spent together, they have tackled some tough conversations and their relationship has grown as a result. Christine has always created a space where they are partners, equals and they are of great value to the other. She isn’t doing anything for Florence; rather they are doing this for each other.

When Little Brother Deonte met his Big Brother Alan, he was struggling academically and was displaying negative behavior at school and at home. He would disrespect his teachers and get into confrontation with is peers. Deonte was diagnosed with ADHD and found it very difficult to maintain focus. Alan, from the beginning of the match, provided Deonte with the encouragement, guidance and consistency that he needed in his life. Their match started through a school-based program where they met once a week at school during lunch/recess period. Here they would eat lunch and play a game, do school work or practice lessons on the computer. The match grew and evolved to a community-based match. Here they would have the opportunity to do more activities and spend more time together.

As the school year begins, Big Brother Alan helps his Little Brother get ready by going shopping together for school supplies. They also enjoy bowling, golfing, roller skating, swimming, fishing and attending University of Illinois sporting events. With every activity that they participate in, Big Brother Alan ensures that he creates an opportunity for his Little to learn new skills. For example, when they go fishing, he is teaching Deonte the importance of patience and the great result that can come from it. Another example was when Deonte learned to ride four wheelers, Big Brother Alan emphasized the importance of safety.

All of these activities have helped nurture a bond that they both share. “I believe over the past five years, Deonte and I have developed a special bond where we have learned to trust each other, and can be open and honest in our conversations,” stated Big Brother Alan. This bond grew even stronger when Deonte’s 20-month old brother was killed in a hit-and-run accident. Alan knew that Deonte needed him more than ever, and he immediately went to Deonte and was there to help him sort through his emotions. Little Brother Deonte was able to cope with the loss and grew closer to his Big Brother. One day he asked Alan, “Will you be my Big Brother when I get older?” in which Alan responded, “Sure I will, if you want me to.” It was here that Alan knew that this match would result in a long-lasting friendship.

Little Sister Hope’s mom knew that her daughter needed guidance to ensure Hope would stay focused on school and have a more positive outlook on life. Hope was matched with Big Sister Brianna in 2012. Brianna wanted to find a way to give back to her community and have a direct impact on an individual’s life, instead of just donating money for a cause. Since their match started, Big Sister Brianna has worked to ensure her Little Sister that they will be keeping their relationship for a long time.

As a 13-year old, Hope had trouble understanding how to appropriately spend and save money. Given Little Sister Hope’s background, Big Sister Brianna has put an emphasis on doing “real world” outings in addition to the fun outings. Brianna mentioned that she has talked to Hope about the importance of saving money, and they have gone to the bank, written checks and balanced a check book. They have even renewed tags at the local courthouse, and discussed car insurance and basic car maintenance. “I want to show her that there is a much larger world than what she currently knows,” stated Big Sister Brianna and feels that these basic activities doing just that. To keep things fun, they like to get their nails done, grab dinner, then watch a movie. Big Sister Brianna and Little Sister Hope also enjoy bowling and riding go-carts.

Little Sister Hope has certainly grown, thanks to the support of her Big Sister. She has come to know the importance of forming positive habits as she works hard to achieve every goal that she has. One of their favorite outings involved going to an Auburn University football game. This was a huge opportunity for Big Sister Brianna to showcase what a university has to offer to her Little Sister. They went a little early to take a tour of the campus, talk about scholarships, and discuss how if she works hard and stays in school, she can go to any college she wants. Little Sister Hope has realized that she has control over her own future and all the successes to come.

Raising three sons by yourself is no easy task. After Big Brother Mark’s sons soon grew up, he found himself wanting to give back and do activities that he did with his sons when they were younger. Mark wasn’t scared or concerned about the any potential difficulties, family background or behaviors. He simply wanted to help a child who desperately needed a mentor. Big Brother Mark was matched in 2008 with his Little Brother, Sammy.

Sammy had many challenges growing up. Sammy’s father was deported from the U.S. when Sammy was just one year old. He also has severe ADHD, and was often bullied and made fun of. Little Brother Sammy’s mom knew that he needed the support of someone to go out and do male-oriented activities that she simply could not do with him. When the match started, the only male figure in Little Brother’s Sammy’s life was his grandfather, who was wheelchair bound and was limited in the activities that they could do together.

Sammy and his mother have moved four times since the match started, which Big Brother Mark states, “I feel as though I am the only stable relationship he has.” As their time progressed, they began to try more new things, have more meaningful conversations and spend more time together.

Mark has introduced his Little Brother to his family and has made Sammy and his mom feel like they are part of their big family. “Mark has opened up his home to me and my son and made us feel like we have more family than just each other,” said Sammy’s mother.

Big Brother Mark understands that there is a fine line of being a father figure to his Little Brother, but also someone he feels is on his side. “Mark has, without a doubt, been a father figure in my life and I know I can talk to him about anything a son would talk to his dad about, but also can talk to him as a friend and best friend. I think it’s the best of both worlds,” Little Brother Sammy stated.

When they first met, Little Brother Sammy had few interests or hobbies. That has now changed thanks to his Big Brother. They have enjoyed going bowling, riding go-carts, going to the movies, and even tried hunting and fishing. Something that Little Brother Sammy has grown a great interest in is old world war items like World War II memorabilia. Another activity that Little Brother Sammy really enjoys is learning how to fix things around the house, yard, and even doing some basic car maintenance such as changing the engine oil. Through these activities, Little Brother Sammy is now striving to graduate high school and hopes to go into the Army and then one day become an attorney. Little Brother Sammy is excited to say “I was a follower my whole life and now I am a proud to say I am a leader!”

When Little Sister Asia got matched with her Big Sister Ginny, Asia and her mother were considered homeless. The home they lived in was damaged beyond repair in a wind storm. This struggle affected Asia’s social-emotional health. Asia’s mother also was restricted to stay indoors due to a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease. “Because of my disease, I am not able to do as much with Asia as I would like to, and this is where Ginny fits in.” Asia’s mother knew that Asia needed someone to help her through this tough time in their lives and put her in a path to success.

Prior to being matched with her new Little Sister, Big Sister Ginny was nervous about the possibility of having another Little. Ginny had just completed an 11-year match through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Illinois. She had thoughts such as “what if it doesn’t work this time? What if the new girl doesn’t like me? What if we cannot find things to do together?” All of these worries were lessened in their first meeting. They met around Asia’s 11th birthday; her mom kept the match visit a surprise as Asia had been waiting so long and did not want to disappoint. Asia was very interested in Ginny’s previous match and when she learned that it lasted as long as it did, she got excited that her new Big Sister was committed. “Asia declared that getting matched to me was the best birthday present she could ever wish for,” said Big Sister Ginny.

The match started out with trips to local parks, pizza dinners and a little bit of homework help. Big Sister Ginny wanted to learn more about her new Little Sister, so they also played games like 20 questions. Ginny worked to lay a foundation of trust, understanding and safety, which allowed Asia to bloom. Big Sister Ginny offered many resources to help advocate for the family for the recovery of items lost in the storm and for housing assistance. Through these efforts, a local sorority took note of the match relationship, providing items like clothing, school supplies, art supplies and other small tokens of encouragement throughout the year. This small act helped Ginny convey the message that people truly care about Asia’s success in life.

The support Asia received inspired them to develop new traditions every year where they help others. Every fall they help a friend prepare for a big Halloween party, cleaning and decorating and making piñatas. Near Christmas, they make dozens of homemade cookies to share, as well as see the production of A Christmas Carol. In the spring, they help out at the annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake event.

Ginny has also encouraged Asia to think holistically about her health, learning better eating habits, utilizing community assets like parks, open gyms and other activities for physical exercise, and being more aware of her social-emotional wellbeing. Little Sister Asia and Big Sister Ginny celebrated their five-year anniversary earlier this year and couldn’t be more excited for what the future has in store for them. “I think this is mostly what a sisterhood is all about: having someone to live, love and laugh with,” said Little Sister Asia.

Experiencing the loss of a loved one will turn anyone’s life upside down. Little Brother Sammy not only lost his brother, but his father became very ill. Sammy’s mom knew that he needed a positive role model during this tragic time in his life. She saw him dealing with all the stress by becoming reclusive and withdrawn. He lacked any motivation, ambition, self-confidence or direction in his life.

When Sammy first met his Big Brother, Phil, he was apprehensive and unsure about participating in the program. During their first meeting, Sammy told his new Big Brother about the loss of his older brother, and Phil responded by letting him know that he, too, lost his older brother. Sammy immediately knew that he had a bond with Phil. “We started talking and found out we had a lot in common and had an instant connection,” said Little Brother Sammy.

When Sammy first saw his new Big Brother, he thought that Phil was a little old and wouldn’t be able to keep up with him. However, Sammy soon realized that Phil could not only keep up, but he found himself trying keeping up with his Big Brother. Phil often encouraged Sammy to do things he didn’t think were possible, including singing, dancing and acting. Thanks to this encouragement, Sammy is now a member of a children’s musical theatre program and has performed in “Annie,” “Peter Pan” and “Seusical the Musical.”

Their bond was more evident when Sammy’s father passed away due to his illness a short time after their match. Phil took his Little Brother to lunch and spent the entire day together to help cope with his loss. Big Brother Phil attended the funeral, and it was there that Sammy’s mother understood the scope of how much of a difference Phil was making on her son. Sammy approached his mom and said, “You don’t have to worry about me losing my father, mom, because I have Phil.” Big Brother Phil successfully filled the empty hole that the loss of Sammy’s older brother and father left with new hope and motivation to be successful. Through their three-year match, Little Brother Sammy has evolved into a wonderful public speaker who makes eye contact, is funny, at ease around strangers, and overall has a positive attitude. Both Big Brother Phil and Little Brother Sammy agree that this match is meant to last a lifetime.

Growing up is never easy. It is especially hard when you are the second oldest of five sisters raised by a single mother. In 2009, Cyrenna (CyCy) was introduced to her new Big Sister, Brianne. Skeptical about the opportunity, CyCy often challenged her Big Sister. “I honestly believed she would leave me sooner or later, so why not sooner rather than later,” said Little Sister CyCy. Brianne soon proved that she was not like other adult figures in CyCy’s life and would be there, regardless of all of the challenges they both may face.

CyCy and her sisters were in foster care for two years. When they were reunited with their mother, Big Brothers Big Sisters was recommended so the girls would have strong mentors and trusted friends. CyCy felt that she was forced into growing up at a very young age and never had the time to be a kid. Big Sister Brianne allowed her to have those childhood moments. “Brianne brings the kid out of me that I was never able to be. I have grown as a person and no longer consider myself a person with extra baggage.”

Two years after their match, CyCy was going down a path that could have led her to dropping out of high school. She was skipping class and engaging in risky behaviors. She was spending time with peers who didn’t care about school and there was always “drama” in her life. Brianne was constantly there to support her and let her know that no matter what she did, Brianne was not going anywhere.

Brianne also held CyCy to higher standards, letting her know, as she did when they first met, that she is worthy of more in her life. Thanks to the constant support from Big Sister Brianne, CyCy held herself to a higher standard. CyCy enrolled into the Washington Youth Academy, a military-based school where students live on site for five months. She came out energized and committed to her education. She also enrolled into the Pierce County Skills Center during her senior year, where she worked toward becoming a Certified Nurse Assistant. Now, CyCy plans to attend college, something she never thought possible. “Without Brianne’s never-ending encouragement and long talks about my future, I would not be where I am today.”

The world can be a very scary place for any 10-year-old. This is especially true for someone with Asperger’s, a condition that affects the ability to socialize and communicate. Thanks to the help from his Big Brother Sean, Little Brother Miles has grown tremendously from a shy, inward child to a happy, smiling young boy with plenty to say. Many kids let their personality traits make it hard for them to try new things or understand how to deal with certain situations. Big Brother Sean identified this as a key area to work on early in their match. Little Brother Miles used to feel lonely and would get upset when faced with life changes. But with the support of his Big Brother Sean, Miles is now learning to overcome new things and new emotions.

“One of the most important things I try to help Miles with is his social skills. I want Miles to be happy with himself and share that with others,” Big Brother Sean stated. Sean has made sure to plan activities where they can bond closely, such as playing chess, as well as activities where Miles can slowly break out of his comfort zone, such as sporting events. Although their first Milwaukee Bucks game was a little rocky, due to a little too much going on for Miles, they are both looking forward to giving it another try and working on Miles’ comfort level. They have also gone to watch the Brewers play, gone sailing, and done some pumpkin carving.

Little Brother Miles’ mom has been very thankful to Big Brother Sean for providing guidance and helping her son gain his sense of security. “Sean has done a great job taking Miles out of his comfort zone and helping him try new things,” said Miles’ mom. She always wanted to have a male influence in her son’s life who was older and could help him deal with new things life was throwing at Miles. With help from his Big Brother, Miles has developed his self-confidence and is better prepared to handle big challenges and opportunities.

When Ashley was 11 years old, her world as she knew it came to an end during a phone call where her dad told her that he and her mom were getting a divorce. She took the news very hard and struggled to adjust for some time thereafter. Her mother looked to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas and decided to enroll Ashley in the program in hopes of finding someone who Ashley could trust and lean on through this tough time.

In the fall of 1987, Ashley was matched with her Big Sister Tammey. One of their first meetings took place at the school where Tammey worked. There, Little Sister Ashley saw how beloved Tammey was by the students and realized what an exceptional person she was. From day one, Tammey took her Little Sister under her wing and made her part of her family. They ran errands, cooked, ate dinner together, and went to the movies. They grew even closer when Ashley was the first extended family member to hold Tammey’s second son in the hospital.

When Tammey moved away for several years, they both feared that this would put a damper on their relationship; however, it did just the opposite. This move allowed them to appreciate their relationship even more. Soon afte0,r Tammey would move again and add even more distance between her and her Little Sister. This move hindered the frequency in which they saw each other, but it did not break their strong bond. Their sisterhood remains steadfast to this very day. Big Sister Tammey has been there for Little Sister Ashley by attending her wedding, providing support through tough times, and always being welcome with open arms – nearly 30 years later.