Greenwood Big Brothers Big Sisters panel focuses on impact of mentors

The rewards outweigh even the most difficult times.

That was the message repeated over and over Friday morning at the Community Church of Greenwood, as mentors shared their experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.

Dealing with their Littles can sometimes be hard; often, the kids they’re paired up with have gone through tumult in most areas of their lives.

Seeing the impact mentoring has their Littles lives far outweighs any of that.

“Just the smile on my Little’s face when I picked him up — every time we got to go somewhere, he was just so happy,” said Sara Copp, development and community director for Boys and Girls Club of Johnson County and a former Big.

The testimonies came forward during Coffee, Collab and Convo, a special program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. Leaders of the organization, supporters and volunteer mentors shared their experiences, painting a picture of being a Big.

In Johnson County, 81 young people are waiting to be matched with a mentor. Friday’s event was a chance to educate potential Bigs and answer any questions they might have.

“That’s the focus right here in Johnson County — how do we serve that 81,” said Eric Saunders, manager of community engagement for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.

Participants in the panel were unequivocal in their support. Mentorship can be life-changing — for the kids in the program as well as the Bigs they’re paired with, they said.

“My experience has been profound and life-changing for me; I know it has been for Blaze too,” said Rick Woodcox, a Greenwood resident involved in the program.

About 20 people gathered in the cafe area at Community Church of Greenwood for Coffee, Collab and Convo, curious to figure out if Big Brothers Big Sisters was right for them.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a national organization that pairs children in need with adult role models. They meet for about five hours each month, doing activities such as hiking, playing sports, fishing and going to the movies. Bigs help them with homework, or just hang out and talk with them.

Potential Bigs must be 19 years old or older, be able to meet with a child on average two to four times a month for a minimum of four hours per month and commit to the program for at least a year. Applicants must be willing to complete an interview process, which includes a background check.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana has made recruiting mentors in Johnson County a priority, planning events and learning opportunities in Greenwood, Bargersville and more in recent years. Leaders also teamed with a Leadership Johnson County group, Big for JoCo, to visit various organizations and corporations throughout Johnson County to connect those businesses with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.

Friday’s panel event continued that effort.

Sitting on the panel sharing their stories were both Copp and Woodcox, who offered perspectives on what being a Big was like.

Prior to her role at the Boys and Girls Club, Copp signed up to be a Big while serving in the military. She was interested in finding some way to serve her community and felt connected to the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“I felt like this was the easiest way for me to give back,” she said.

Woodcox has been a Big for the past nine years, and continues in his mentorship with his Little, Blaze. The two get together multiple times a month to exercise, go hiking, play sports or just spend some time together.

They have been through a wealth of ups and downs, as Woodcox has seen Blaze grow from a shy kid to a teen on the verge of adulthood. That change over time has been impressive, he said.

“Watching him grow into a young adult is pretty rewarding,” he said.

Joining them was Matt Vukusich, senior mentoring relationship specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. He shared ways the program supports potential mentors, providing an outlet to work through potential problems with both the Little and their family as well as the Big.

That guidance, particularly in the first year of the pairing, is a service that many of the mentors find invaluable.

“I see myself as a Big for the Bigs, someone who’s there to support them,” he said.

One by one, the participants offered unique perspectives on the mentoring process. They were clear that being a mentor doesn’t require a certain skill or an oversized amount of time.

“The most important thing is just showing up,” Woodcox said.

As the panel drew to a close, Copp summed up the impact mentoring has with something she tells her college interns at the Boys and Girls Club.

“I tell them, these kids are going to be leaders in this community. You have a choice, and you’re going to be a key player whether they’re going to be a positive player in the community or a negative player in the community,” she said. “If I could just instill that in you: How do I want to give back to this community, and what can I do to get them on the right side of life?”

How to get involved

Here is a look at some requirements and information about signing up to be a Big or Little in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program:

Requirements:

Be 19 years old or older

Be able to meet with a child two to four times per month for one year

Have a valid I.D.

Have reliable transportation with valid auto insurance.

Must be willing to complete an interview process, including background check

For complete volunteer requirements, go to bebigforkids.org/volunteer.