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Growing up in a crowded household with many siblings, and young parents, Latara enrolled in her local program with Big Brothers Big Sisters as a way to get to enjoy new experiences. Latara appreciated having someone she could hang out with, and who would be there for her. The incredible impact and experience has inspired Latara to now become a Big Sister too!

Following her time as a Little Sister, Latara grew older and went on to graduate college and earn a Master’s Degree in Education. She currently works as a Pathway Coach for Charlottesville’s City of Promise, a Department of Education Promise Neighborhood initiative. In this role, she helps improve the educational and developmental outcomes of middle school girls and high school boys living in underserved neighborhoods.

Latara wanted to serve her community and to see the rewards that come with lending a helping hand. In 2012, she became a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, Va. where she was matched with her Little Sister, Keyshanna.

“After college, I found myself with spare time and not really having anything in my life that made me feel as though I was doing my part in the community,” Latara said. “By becoming a Big, I knew that I was signing up to be a part of something bigger than myself.”

Together, Latara and Keyshanna enjoy a number of fun activities, including participating in a local cooking club, doing yoga and arts and crafts. Latara noted that beyond experiencing different activities, ultimately, they enjoy just sharing time with each other. Latara has also seen a marked impact on Keyshanna, who has gone from being reserved and shy to increasingly outgoing.

Latara understands the need for programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters, stating that she feels every child, especially those in need, “should have at least one person in their life who they can go to, helping them to navigate various transitions they will face in their life, challenges and rewards.”

When Josh was in elementary school, he participated in the local site-based program through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Piedmont in North Carolina. As a part of the program, Josh met on a weekly basis with a woman named Jennifer. Jennifer would eat lunch with Josh, help him with his homework and even just talk about what was going on in Josh’s life.

After Josh completed elementary school, the two still met regularly. To spend more time together, Jennifer transferred the match to the community-based program. As their match continued and Josh got older, Jennifer realized that he could use some quality time with a male role model. After convincing her husband Frank to sign up to become a Big Brother, he and Josh were matched more than five years ago.

Early in their new match, Saturday mornings were reserved for karate lessons. At 9:30 a.m., Frank would pull up to the house to meet Josh. Following karate, Frank and Josh would always take to exploring the community. The two usually at least got a bite to eat, took a moment to discuss what was going on in Josh’s life, and what he could do to prepare for the future.

Josh enjoys music, of which Frank is delighted to share his knowledge, being a talented musician himself. While Frank teaches Josh quite a lot about music and musical theory, the most enjoyable part is when they get to jam together, playing drums and guitar.

With Frank at his side, Josh has been able to grow and mature into a young man. In June of last year, Josh graduated from high school! Even though their match within the confines of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program formally ended, that has not stopped Frank and Josh from continuing to spend time with each other nearly every Saturday.

A little more than four years ago, Big Brother James first met and was matched with his new Little Brother Devin through their local program at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Over the past several years, the pair has enjoyed getting to know each other. But, even more impressive, the two have really bonded over enjoying various community service projects together.

Occasionally, James and Devin will work at a local food bank, organizing meals for those in need. While serving their community at the food bank, the two also have fun at the same time sorting food and chatting. Recently, James and Devin participated in a hospice charity walk. The “walk” ultimately became more of a “race,” ending up with Devin showing off his athleticism and James trying to keep up!

It is great to see this pair having fun and giving back to their communities and learning how they can help those less fortunate. Additionally, they have had their fair share of other experiences too – like paintballing, Frisbee golfing and attending Tampa Bay Buccaneers games! James has really gone out of his way to open his Little Brother’s eyes to different life experiences.

“I’m excited to be more of a sounding board as he gets older,” says Big Brother James. “We like to joke around about Devin being a Big to my infant son when he gets older. I love the idea of Devin paying it forward and becoming a Big someday.”

For his part, Devin says he enjoys spending time with James, and the two of them both look forward to what the future will bring for their match and their friendship.

Following a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan, Cliff Brown returned home tired, but hopeful and excited about being back. As Cliff searched for a way to fill new time in a productive and meaningful way, he turned to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Cliff had firsthand knowledge of the program and its value, as he was a Little Brother when he was a child. Difficult childhood circumstances eventually led to Cliff and his siblings to be raised by his grandparents. After that, his grandparents signed each of the siblings up with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Because of Cliff’s relationship with his Big Brother, Ed Payne, Cliff was able to overcome serious adversity and hardship in his life.

“They [Cliff’s grandparents] worked hard to ensure we had the right guidance and counseling, with everything that was going on,” Cliff explained, referring to his unique family situation. “The single biggest contributor to that was Big Brothers Big Sisters.”

Cliff and his siblings each benefited from having a caring adult mentor in their lives. It was Cliff’s connection with his Big Brother Ed that helped him to successfully navigate, and even thrive, during his difficult formative years. They are still in touch after all these years, sharing in special occasions together, enjoying meals and attending Big Brothers Big Sisters events.

Cliff remembers reflecting on lessons from his Big Brother during trying times while serving with the Army. Cliff points to Ed’s ability to convey lessons in everything the pair did together as a large part in how he carries himself today.

Today, Cliff studies sociology and serves in the Army National Guard. After his return from Afghanistan, Cliff was matched with his Little Brother, Aiden, thanks to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest in Worcester, MA. Cliff enjoys the opportunity to have fun and be a kid for a couple of hours a week, as the two both enjoy sports and outdoor activities like kayaking or snowboarding.

Cliff appreciates the opportunity to be a Big Brother to Aiden because it gives him the chance to experience mentoring from both sides, seeing all aspects of Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is excited for the chance to draw on the lessons he learned from his Big Brother, teaching Aiden to take on challenging activities and to strive to succeed and persevere.

Eight-year-old Mingo was the youngest of six children. With his parents unable to care for Mingo and all his siblings, they were set to be separated. Some would go to live with a grandparent, and the rest, including Mingo, to be placed across different foster families. To keep that from happening, Mingo’s grandparents took in two children, and Mingo’s aunt graciously opted to raise Mingo and his three other siblings on her own.

Aunt Nita sacrificed to keep Mingo’s siblings together, hoping to spare them any further trauma. To help ensure that each child had a positive influence, she signed them up with Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. Before long, Mingo was matched with his Big Brother, Tim.

Tim quickly proved to be an impactful presence in Mingo’s life. Mingo seldom spoke at school until he spent more time with his Big Brother Tim. Mingo’s teacher even noticed his transition as he went from withdrawing during class discussions to fully participating.

As Tim and Mingo’s relationship grew, they developed a strong bond of trust. In time, Mingo felt comfortable approaching his Big Brother to talk about the things that worried him. One example is when Mingo worried about his Aunt Nita when she needed some medical work done. After sharing his fears with Tim, Mingo was able to work through his worries, thanks to the support of his Big Brother.

Little Brother Mingo feels secure talking to his Big Brother about all sorts of things, including when he’s scared, sad or even just having a bad dream. Tim considers Mingo to be a part of his family. They see Mingo as a special part of their lives. The feeling is mutual.

“I have only one BFF, and it’s Uncle Tim,” Mingo said.

Sean lives with his mom and sister. His mother, realizing that he needed someone in his life to be a male role model, signed him up with their local Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Tampa Bay when he was eight years old. She hoped to find a “special person” whom Sean could confide in, look up to and respect.

Nearly three years ago, Sean was successfully matched with his Big Brother, Alex. Ever since then, the pair has gotten together every other weekend, spending time doing all sorts of fun and interesting activities. Alex quickly picked up on the fact that Sean has a strong thirst for knowledge, always wanting to know what things are, and how they work.

So while they still often participate in some of the more typical agency-supported events, like going to Tampa Bay Rays and Buccaneers games, they also have really enjoyed working on projects together. After a trip to Home Depot, Sean and Alex built a soccer goal together. They have also built a birdhouse and put together some shelves for Sean’s bedroom. These sorts of activities were completely new to Sean, and he never would have had the opportunity to enjoy them without his Big Brother.

During their time together, Alex makes it a point to always encourage Sean to do better, try harder and to make good choices, but in a way that does not come across as lecturing. Sean’s mother feels that because of this, Sean really thinks about the different things he and Alex discuss.

“Sean has a great outlook – he never complains, is always up for trying/doing new things, is a hard worker, and likes to have fun,” says Alex. “I hope he looks up to me, but I actually appreciate the example that he sets for me too. Spending time with him and watching him grow has been an extremely rewarding and positive experience for me.”

According to Sean’s mom, the biggest changes she has noticed in him are in his attitude and behavior at home. He is generally nicer to his family and helps out more around the house than he used to. She feels that much of this comes from Sean wanting to work hard, and do better, all to make Alex proud.

Joshua enrolled in his local program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hawaii, in part, because his mother felt like he was watching too much television, and she wanted him to have a chance to experience and learn new things outside of their home. Before long, Joshua met his Big Brother Roman, and several months later, the match is going strong!

Joshua and Roman have developed a very close friendship through their weekly outings. They have had the opportunity to engage in all sorts of fun activities around the area, including a birthday trip to Dave and Busters, swimming at the beach, attending a University of Hawaii football game and learning Roman’s “secret fishing technique.”

Besides getting to enjoy new and interesting activities, Roman has also had a positive impact on Joshua as a person. Over the course of their friendship, Joshua has learned from Roman how to be respectful toward other people, and also how to use proper manners.

One of their more memorable experiences was when Roman took Joshua to go see the superhero movie, “The Avengers.” After seeing it, for a bit of fun, Roman started calling Joshua “Captain,” in reference to the Marvel character Captain America from the movie. Joshua, in turn, has started referring to his Big Brother as “The Hulk,” due to his big arms.

The pair enjoyed attending a Bowl for Kids’ Sake event with Joshua’s family recently, where, with his Big Brother’s support, Joshua won a dance-off competition and received a trophy for his efforts! It is no secret that Roman and Joshua know how to have fun and enjoy life. Their young friendship has set the tone for the both of them for their relationship in the future, and represents a fantastic example of how much fun you can have in just a few hours, every couple of weeks.

Anna-Claire was in high school when she first met her Little Sister, Savannah. It was lunch time, and Anna-Claire sat down with Savannah at the table to spend some time with her. After a brief amount of time, a staff member from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi approached Anna-Claire to ask what she thought. Tearfully, Anna-Claire responded, “She’s perfect!” Five years later, Savannah and Anna-Claire are still together.

Savannah was born with cerebral palsy. When she and Anna-Claire first met, she was confined to a wheelchair, and so she did not always have the same opportunities as other children her age to go out and do things. Savannah is being raised by her grandmother, who wants her to be able to enjoy new and interesting experiences with her Big Sister.

Anna-Claire’s first question to Savannah was: “Where do you want to go?” With that, it was off to a local pizza place for some food, games and activities. In their time together, the two have enjoyed visiting an aquarium in New Orleans, going to a hair stylist and nail salon, and simply going out for dinner.

In the time they have been matched, Savannah’s condition has improved to the point where she can now get around using a walker. This has enabled Savannah and Anna-Claire to enjoy even more activities, including a huge surprise for Savannah – tickets to a Justin Bieber concert in New Orleans! According to Savannah, it was her dream come true.

While Anna-Claire has since graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi, and works in Jackson, she still comes home at least two weekends a month to see Savannah. Recently, when talking about her Big Sister to a teacher, Savannah stated, “She changed my life.”

Sonee and his Big Brother Dale have only been matched since May 2014 through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, however, even in that brief amount of time, the two have built a strong and friendly relationship, as they both continue to make positive impacts in each other’s lives. Sonee’s mother can already recognize a difference in her son’s behavior and general outlook, and she attributes much of that to Dale’s influence.

Sonee and Dale enjoy spending time together, and they are a unique match that works well, from Dale’s dry sense of humor (which Sonee loves!) to Sonee’s keen interest in remote-controlled cars. Dale tries to continually expose Sonee to new and interesting experiences. The two have attended and participated in various Big Brothers Big Sisters events and activities together. They also had the opportunity to march in Ventura’s 4^th of July Parade, where Sonee rode his scooter alongside his Big Brother.

While they always try to do something fun, as Dale likes picking activities for Sonee that are new to him, Dale knows that Sonee’s real interest will always lie with remote-controlled cars. With that in mind, after their latest new activity, Dale always leaves time for the two of them to return to the hobby shop so that he and Sonee can learn more about the craft of remote-controlled cars. He recognizes this as something that makes Sonee particularly unique, so Dale always wants to encourage him to explore his hobby.

In their short time together, Dale and Sonee have enjoyed experiencing a range of new things. They both have already made an impact on one another. Sonee’s mother notes that since he has been spending time with Dale, he has improved in his relationship with his sister and has even started to learn more about understanding his own emotions.

Sometimes all it takes is someone to talk to, or someone to enjoy a hobby with, to make a noticeable difference in the life of a child. You can help make that difference a reality for other children in your community through your support as a volunteer or donor.

Ryana enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Idaho at the age of six. Raised by her grandmother, Ryana grew up with five siblings. Her grandmother became concerned that Ryana would not get the one-on-one time that a growing child needs, and she wanted someone who could help expose Ryana to new experiences and opportunities. In 2006, she met her new Big Sister Katie.

One day, while Katie and Ryana were out hiking, the topic of running came up. Ryana bragged about how fast she ran a mile during one of her PE classes her eighth grade year. She had expressed interest in running before, but was hesitant to pursue it due to the cost of participating in school organized sports. Katie went to work, contacting various people at Ryana’s school and was able to secure a scholarship for her to join cross country!

Katie had asked to be kept in the loop on Ryana’s progress, and partway through the season, the coach contacted her to inform her that Ryana had been routinely missing practices. After picking Ryana up from school that day, Katie took the opportunity to discuss honesty and responsibility with her, turning a not so good situation into a positive learning experience. They ended the evening with a nice dinner, and then washed Katie’s car for a little penance.

After that experience, Katie’s next update from Ryana’s coach could not have been better. In fact, the coach informed her that Ryana was set to race in the district tournament. After presenting Ryana with a good luck necklace, Ryana ran a personal best 5k time, helping her team to qualify for the state tournament, where she ran even faster! She has committed to run track in the spring, now considering herself an athlete, runner and an important part of her team.

Over the past eight years, Ryana and Katie have developed a strong relationship, due in part to Katie’s consistency, commitment and high-spirited disposition. You can help other children like Ryana who need someone in their lives to be there for them; to always show up or to be ready to talk. Support Big Brothers Big Sisters today with a donation or by volunteering.