Big Brothers Big Sisters holds inaugural Big Breakfast in Southern Indiana
Read the original article, published in the News and Tribune, here.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (Nov. 14, 2024) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana had its inaugural Big Breakfast event to celebrate mentorship and raise funds for its programs.
The Big Breakfast was packed full of community members and local businesses who support youth mentoring.
The breakfast was Thursday at The Refinery, 450 Missouri Ave, Jeffersonville, and had Bigs and Littles at every table for guests to speak with and learn about their time in the program.
Board members and community leaders were at the breakfast to help engage with the guests about the organization as well.
This event replaced the organization’s golf event so it could have an event that would include everyone and get them more involved with the Southern Indiana community.
“We’re here today because mentorship matters,” said Gary Friedman, the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana. “Having a positive adult in your life makes a huge difference. There are so many ways it impacts, not only the Little, but the adult, the Big.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana believes that every young person has the ability to achieve full potential, all it takes is a little motivation and encouragement, Friedman added.
During the breakfast, one of the Littles who has been with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana since 2017, Autumn Camp, spoke about her experience in the program.
“When I first joined Big Brothers Big Sisters almost seven years ago, I didn’t know what to expect,” Camp said. “I was excited, open-minded and I never imagined I could find my best friend in a mentor.”
Because of the mentorship at Big Brothers Big Sisters, Camp added that she has become more confident, responsible and knows that she can work toward any goal she sets her mind to.
Camp graduated from Mercy Academy last year and is now in her second half of aesthetician school in Louisville. When she is done with school, she wants to either go work at a spa, start her own business or go into nursing school.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters didn’t just give me a mentor, they gave me so much hope for my future,” Camp said.
A mentor also came to speak about his experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Bobby Burke has been a Big Brother since 2021.
Burke joined after two of his friends spoke about how much it meant to them to be a mentor to their Littles. Later he got in touch with the organization and he was matched with a boy who is now in the eighth grade.
“…Making impacts on his life, also made impacts on mine,” Burke said. “It doesn’t turn into this Big-Little mentorship. It turns into almost a Little-Big mentorship.”