Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM August 2019 | Page 40
NON-PROFIT OF THE MONTH
SHANNON BURKE
Executive Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast
[email protected]
http://www.mentorsgc.org
BIGGER Together
“Being Jacob’s Big has opened my eyes as to what life
is all about. It’s not about you, it’s about others.” ~ Big
Brother Paul Garcia
Jacob was just 8 years old when he met his Big
Brother Paul. Jacob’s father was incarcerated, and he
was struggling to express his feelings. As a Community-
Based match with Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast,
Paul picked his Little Brother up a few times each month
to play basketball, stroll through classic car shows, or
just talk. As their friendship grew and trusts formed,
Jacob began confiding more in his Big Brother whom
he called “Coach.”
True to his nickname, Paul remained a strong role
model throughout their match by consistently working
with him on his self-esteem and school preparedness.
Paul encouraged Jacob to work hard and get involved,
in turn boosting his confidence and academic
successes.
By providing guidance and direction, Jacob began
expressing his feelings to Coach. Even when peer
pressures and negative influences found their way into
Jacob’s teen years, his Big Brother’s involvement kept
him on the right path. Simply by being a consistent
friend, Paul provided the positive impacts that Jacob
needed to overcome obstacles at school and in life.
Thanks to his Big Brother’s guidance, Jacob is now
enrolled in college and will be pursuing a degree in
mechanical engineering this fall. Ten successful years
after they first met, Paul has seen Jacob become the
intelligent, kind, and hard-working young man he is
today. Paul was even selected as the 2019 Big of the
Year, which recognizes local volunteers who go above
and beyond to ignite potential in our youth.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast is to
create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships
that ignite the power and promise of youth. We connect
individuals to create a bigger future. By working with
volunteers, parents, children, and the community,
we quietly deliver amazing results. And because we
are stronger together, our attention is focused on
connecting the community through mentoring.
Our purpose is powerful. If you have one hour a
week to spare, you have what it takes. Your powerful
friendship with a Little will clear a path to their biggest
possible future. And if becoming a Big isn’t for you,
there are so many other ways to help defend potential
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within our youth. A donation to Big Brothers Big
Sisters Gulf Coast will help fund the careful one-to-one
matching and ongoing professional mentoring support
unique to our organization. Your gift will lead to better
outcomes for our nation’s children tomorrow.
“I’ll never forget the experiences Jacob and I have
had in these past 10 years and I wouldn’t trade them for
the world.” Like Big Brother Paul, I hope you’ll consider
becoming a defender of potential. Our cause is big. Our
successes are big. And we are bigger together.
For more information, visit www.mentorsgc.org or call
409-763-4638.