Match Spotlight: Patrick & Andrew

Every day we meet new people having no idea the role they will play in our lives. This is much like what happens when a Big is matched with a Little, you never really know the end outcome. Patrick and Andrew were matched about four years ago. There match has technically closed due to Patrick relocating for Grad school, but that has done little to halt their friendship. “Andrew and I plan on staying friends for life. “ Patrick says he initially wanted to become a Big because of his own experience as a child of divorce, “I was fortunate, in that my mother met a wonderful man, who became an amazing step-father and friend to me. Many children however, aren’t presented with opportunities and advantages that I had myself.”
 
Though Patrick and Andrew have done many activities together, “the most memorable times have been talking to him mano a mano, about life, and the world, and people, and trying to clue him in a little bit on how big the world can get, and how fast life can start to move.” It’s clear to see that it is really the small things that count. Another BIG event the two have shared together is the wedding of Patrick and his now wife. Patrick recently got married on Oct. 15, 2011 and when it came time to pick his groomsmen Andrew was an obvious choice. “Andrew hasn’t merely been a mentee to me, he’s also been a friend that I’ve spent no small amount of time with–he’s my little buddy. It was really a ‘no-brainer’.” Andrew might even have stolen the show as he walked Patrick’s grandmother down the aisle “he was incredibly handsome (according to all the ladies).” Andrew’s mother says he thoroughly enjoyed it and was surprisingly not nervous.

Andrew’s mother Jennifer says that Patrick is not just a mentor but rather family. “We love Patrick.” She is very appreciative of the role Patrick has played in Andrew’s life as a male figure. “Patrick always makes times for Andrew when he calls and that is really special,” exclaims Jennifer. For this reason Jennifer wants to be certain that people realize that these Big Little relationships can turn out to be something more and even when a match is closed a friendship and mentorship can continue to last and flourish forever. Of this experience Patrick says, “It has definitely been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had the privilege of taking part in.”

$5 Campaign

FIRST Pen Pals for Haiti Mission Trip

A Special thanks to the Caribbean People’s Relief Organization and the University of Florida’s Unicef Club for taking our first Big Brothers Big Sisters Pen pals for Haiti trip this last month. The volunteers worked extremely hard during the past few months fundraising to raise money to cover the entire trip to Montrouis, Haiti. This week long mission trip touched the hearts of all the volunteers and had a positive impact on the children. The volunteers brought 24 Army duffle bags filled with donations to Haiti and distributed the items throughout the Montrouis community. This community has nothing, yet you would never be able to tell this by their overwhelming positive energy. The groups of volunteers have only been back in Gainesville for five days and have already implemented a monthly donation system with the Montrouis community. The Unicef group is going to donate $120 American dollars to the orphans in Montrouis, Haiti. The money will be used to provide the orphans with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast. The orphan children are used to only getting one meal a day due to low funds available to them.
If you want to be a part of this experience and touch the life of someone in Haiti become a volunteer with the Pen pals for Haiti program at BBBS of Mid-Florida call us 352.375.2525 or visit www.bbbsmidflorida.org.

“Littlepalooza” hosted by Nationwide

Big thanks to Nationwide Insurance for hosting its fifth annual “Littlepalooza” event on May 7, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Florida. The fun-filled event was hosted at Nationwide Insurance, 3300 SW Williston Road, from 10 am to 2 pm. Nationwide employees, parents and Bigs and Littles of all ages gathered for a day of fun in the sun. Attendees enjoyed a variety of exciting activities, including basketball, face painting, arts and crafts, a bounce house and more. A BIG thank you goes to Jeremy Staun and Latavia Foye from Nationwide whose invaluable efforts made this event a success. We also want to give a BIG thanks to Gator Dominoes for generously donating 50 percent of the pizzas for the Littlepalooza event. Littlepalooza was a hit with about 50 children in attendance. An incredible thank you also goes to Tammy Jackson, director of the Southeast Rotary Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County, for bringing a bus full of children to enjoy the day’s activities and making it such a great success.
Once again, everyone here at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Florida wants to thank those at Nationwide Insurance for hosting Littlepalooza for the fifth year in a row.

LITTLE PALOOZA EVENT HOSTED BY NATIONWIDE

Nationwide Insurance is excited to announce it’s annual “Littlepalooza” event benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Florida, THIS SATURDAY! This field day event will provide a variety of fun activities for the children in our program. We invite the community to celebrate this fun event, on Saturday May 7th, from 10am to 2pm at Nationwide Insurance, 3300 SW Williston Rd Gainesville, Florida. The employees of Nationwide will be engaging the children in basketball, face painting, arts and crafts, a bounce house, and more. Pizza will be provided by Gator Dominoes.

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