Dan and Zach
Matched since 2017 "If I never had a mentor, I think that I would be doing a lot of things differently. Dan mainly got me into the swim team and helped me get really fast. He gives me motivation, and he is someone that I feel comfortable talking to when I am feeling down or upset and whenever I get to hang out with him my mood always goes up. I love Dan and I don't know where I would be without him and his family." -Youth Zach |
Kevin and Ziggy
Matched since 2022 "He's an easy-going kid, which makes our time together both fun and meaningful. I just try to create a safe space where he knows he's supported." - Mentor Kevin "Kevin teaches me valuable life lessons. I just love our time together, whether we're taking the dog to the park or just hanging out. I know I can talk to Kevin about anything." - Youth Ziggy |
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Mentor Casey Lund on Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii:
"Big Brothers Big Sisters was something I knew I had to be a part of. I joined the organization as a mentor in 2013 in Spokane, Washington and it was one of the greatest decision I've ever made. As I got older, I realized if I was able to.. something I wanted was to give back to somebody that maybe struggled with the same environment growing up. It might sound cliche.. but I get just as much if not more from our relationship than Noah does." Learn more about Casey Lund's match at 3:18 in the video above Think About It: Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai'i
by Emeritus Board MemberJohn Fink (Midweek Columnist, Advisor, Mentor; former CEO- Aloha United Way; former GM- KFVE- TV, KHNL- TV) |
A message from a former Mentor: Warren Leung We have a generation of keiki, boys and girls, who are lost and need a bit of direction, offering of help and not necessarily a handout, all the while giving support to their family who may be missing familial leadership (primarily a father figure, strong, responsible men), or perhaps companionship a sister or brother would provide. The BBBS program shows how big a divide we have with many more Big Sisters willing to step up while Big Brothers are lacking. With so many great men in our community, regardless if they are fathers/dads, they would be able to make a tremendous impact on the mentee's life. Yes, there are coaches, hanai fathers, uncles, grandfathers who have stepped in and stepped up that don't get recognized - what we need is more of them to see what 2-4 interactions a month can do for a child and their family. Let me tell you from experience, every interaction is important and can make a huge difference in these keikiʻs lives. I just want to encourage those who are considering, and those on the fence, jump right in as you will not regret it; I didn't, and to see how my mentee has turned out it was worth the investment - time, finances, and resources. Who knows, maybe this begins your journey of healing while lifting a child who needs someone like you in their life." |
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"One of the best pieces of advice Ish has given me is to keep doing what I'm doing and keep pushing towards my goals. Over time, I've realized how much it means to have someone like Ish in my life. He's really like a brother to me--he lifts me up when I'm down and always encourages me to be better." -Youth Leon
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Mahalo to our supporting partners! If you would like to learn how to get involved, email [email protected] or call (808)521-3811. We are located at 571 Quinn Lane, Kakaako, Hawaii. Federal ID 99-0109970 |