Q WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT WORKING WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS?
It’s easy to watch the news and be overwhelmed by the challenges facing communities. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides an opportunity for individuals to make a real impact for one child. That may seem like a small thing, but it’s not. Not only can it be life-changing for that child, but that positive influence can extend to their family, classroom, community and future generations. I love the support Big Brothers Big Sisters has from corporations and donors across the tri-state, including my own employer, Great American, which has been a strong supporter for more than 25 years.
Q WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’RE PROUD OF IN YOUR CAREER?
When I was in high school and college, I had a lot of great teachers, coaches and family who encouraged me to get involved in community service. After getting a business degree, I thought that someday I’d work for a nonprofit organization. Little did I know that my path with Great American would lead me to work with our Specialty Human Services division, which affords me the chance to work for thousands of them!
Q CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIG SISTER LITTLE SISTER RELATIONSHIP?
In 2010, I started tutoring Ni-ayra at Cincinnati Public Schools through the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati (now Queen City Book Bank). After attending a BBBS Lunch-and-Learn at Great American in 2017, I also became her Big Sister. Over the course of 12 years, we’ve created a lot of wonderful memories. I’m amazed at the relationship you can develop with just a few hours a month spent together (and now that she’s older, texts and FaceTime). She’s an amazing young lady, and I’m so very proud of all the challenges she has overcome in her life.
Q HOW HAS BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS EVOLVED OVER TIME?
Not everyone knows how far back the history of BBBS goes in Cincinnati. A businessman named Irv Westheimer started the organization in 1903. There’s been a lot of evolution, including expanding the Big Brothers organization to include Big Sisters in 1970. Through the years, the organization has grown, giving community members even more ways to get involved. That includes creating site-based mentoring in addition to the traditional community mentoring. With site-based mentoring, volunteers spend one hour a week with a child at a local school for lunch or after-school programs. It is a great way to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters!