‘Being a Big grows your heart’
Mentors age 50+ share their motivations for volunteering Big Sister Sandy Conroy Matched with Hailey since November 2009 Why did you become a Big? In my mid-40s, I was an empty...
You’re never ‘too old’ to be a Big
The Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is: Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. The word “enduring”...
Agency celebrates 60 years, seeks more mentors
Six-year-old Myquez loves singing, dancing and fashion (he takes pride in color coding his outfits each day). One day, he dreams of becoming a police officer. Noah would like an...
You did it! 60 Mentors in 60 Days recruitment campaign a success
On August 1, we launched a recruitment effort to find 60 new mentors to match with 60 children who were waiting for Bigs. We’re happy to announce that the 60...
1,232 kids matched but more await Bigs
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to “provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.” We...
Big Brother helps Little turn his life around
Ryan DeNooyer’s face lights up with pride when he talks about his Little Brother Shaquille. He is very proud of the progress his Little Brother has made in the three...
Stryker employees, interns champion BBBS cause
On June 8, the streets of downtown Kalamazoo were full of life-size s’mores. More than 50 Bigs, Littles, board members and staff walked in the annual Do-Dah Parade as a...
Teen volunteers despite brain injury.
16 year old named Barry County Outstanding Mentor of the Year It is easy to assume that a teenager who survived a serious accident would scale back all activities to...
Big’s influence still felt decades later
‘I can’t imagine where I’d be today without him’ In late 2000, now-retired Pfizer employee Bob Short was reviewing resumes when he came across a familiar name. The name matched...
Bigs plant seeds for Littles’ future careers
Kids get behind-the-scenes view of Bronson Battle Creek If you’ve ever watched a hospital-based television show, you might think the only people who work in the medical field are doctors...
Big Sister was ‘always there for me’
By the time Deeanne Rogers was 9 in 1974, she had already lived a life that was extremely unhealthy and full of emotional pain causing her to become aggressive towards...
Volunteering ‘helps the student-athletes understand how easy it is to help others
WMU baseball team’s coach, players dedicated to mentoring. Imagine being a 12-year-old sports fan and being told that not only are you finally being matched with a long-awaited Big Brother,...