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Joining Big Brothers Big Sisters is a great way to start the new year
By Deanna R. Adams • Today’s Family Writer
Is one of your new year’s resolutions for 2012 to get a new lease on life? Here’s a thought: Become a Big Brother or Big Sister. This mentoring organization can be just the thing to enrich your own life, as well as a child’s. It has done just that for many men and women who want to make a difference.
Two years ago, Greg Smolik, 48, of Painesville, made the phone call that he’d been thinking about making for some time. “I was always aware that there are many boys who don’t have a good male role model or mentor, and I thought it would be a cool thing to do be one,” he says.
After the initial screening process, Greg was matched up with Justin, who was seven at the time. But first, “I met with his mother at a nearby McDonalds. I wanted to talk with her to get a good understanding of what exactly my role would be.”
His role is what every young boy wants: Someone to pal around with. To have fun with. To talk with about “guy things.” And most importantly, someone he can look up to. That’s what Big Brothers Big Sisters is about. As the nation’s oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, its mission is to help young people, ages 6 through 15, reach their potential through positive adult/child relationships that have a direct and lasting impact. Matching up the right personalities is an integral part of that mission. It is based on common interests between the “Bigs” and “Littles” with the ultimate goal on building friendships—some of which can last a lifetime. The agency serves children in communities throughout the country. Big Brother Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio is located in Painesville and serves Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties.
Being Big
Being a mentor to a child doesn’t have to cost money. As a matter of fact, BBBS encourages the adults to seek out activities that require little or no money, such as shooting hoops at a park, playing games together or simply sharing a pizza. Greg and Justin do all that and more.
“We do a lot of one-on-one stuff like taking my dog for a walk, or just hanging out and talking about school or whatnot. I sometimes help Justin with his homework, and when we walk through the park, I like to quiz him about what we see, like the trees and what kind they are, so he gets a better understanding about geology and other things, like the different countries, animals and their habitats, etc.. But one of the best things Justin likes is when we’re in the car together. He loves it when I crank up the radio and we sing at the top of our lungs.”
“We do lots of stuff together,” Justin adds. “We like to go to restaurants, and Greg sometimes takes me to basketball, baseball and hockey games. In summer, we go golfing, and swim at the Civic Center pool.” On their first outing, the two went bowling and now Justin is in a bowling league.
But their most common bond is music. Greg plays guitar and piano, and Justin hopes to learn to play three instruments. “Guitar, drums, and saxophone,” says Justin, who lives with his mom, Sandy, and grandmother. At the time he was interviewed for this story, Justin didn’t know that Greg already had a big surprise for him at Christmas: a set of drums.
“I love having the opportunity to be a role model and help out someone else,” Greg says. “And as a result, I’ve gained a new friend, too. Justin and I have a lot of fun, we laugh a lot.”
Big Brothers Can Be a Big Help to Mothers, Too
Justin’s mother, Sandy, whose older son also had a Big Brother, explains why she wanted her sons involved in the program. “We don’t have contact with their father and I think boys need someone to fill that spot in their life that mothers simply can’t,” she says. “And Greg has been such an awesome moral character for my son to live up to. He’s a real gentleman, is open and honest and does a lot with Justin. We’re both very lucky to have him in our little world.”
For the first time in its history, BBBS is asking for donations. If you’d like to contribute, or want to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, phone 440-352-2526. The Painesville Administrative Office is located at 8 North State Street, Suite 360, Painesville, Ohio 44077. Their web site is www.bbbsneo.org.
NOTE: Later: Lake County Rocks! A musical celebration to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters. Stay tuned for more information next month.
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