We are stepping up to keep kids connected and supported during this time of school distancing, social distancing and stress related to the coronavirus. Plus, we continue to fight against racism and injustice so all children can grow up and achieve their full potential.
That's why we're joining forces with the Cincinnati Business Courier to make 40 new mentoring matches.
That's why we're joining forces with the Cincinnati Business Courier to make 40 new mentoring matches.
Make a donation now to celebrate a "Forty Under 40" honoree with 100% of your donation going to support local mentoring. And please consider volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister.
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If you’re looking for a reason to smile, talk to Zaymar Peak. Zaymar, who graduated from Aiken High School in the spring and is now a freshman at Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama, is happy to share all kinds of good news. Some of the best news for this Little Brother, who played the trumpet throughout high school, is that he fell in love with the band at Miles College, then fell in love with the college. While on a visit there, he was invited to audition for the band, and came home to Cincinnati with a scholarship.
More good news from Zaymar is his ongoing friendship with his Big Brother Tyler Connell. The two were matched in our Site-Based program at St. Francis Seraph in 2011, when Zaymar was in 4th grade. Zaymar remembers, “It was about the little things, knowing I could see him every week was important to me. We’d get my lunch and have a race up the stairs, then see who could chug a carton of milk the fastest. I didn’t really have a male role model and Tyler was somebody I could count on.”
Tyler recalls wondering if his visits meant much to Zaymar, and then, when he had to miss one week because of work, he heard Zaymar had been asking about him and that he couldn’t wait for him to come back. He also remembers that, early on, Zaymar didn’t care much about school or grades or the future. Tyler made sure to let him know that he did care, and that Zaymar should too, and says, “I talked with him about focusing on what’s important, gave him ideas about where to funnel time and energy. Over time, he focused in school and on extra-curriculars, it’s been fun to watch that. I’m proud of him. He does well in school, and the band is great and he has a really good group of friends.”
After a few years in the Site-Based mentoring program, the two decided to switch to Community-Based so they would have more flexibility to get together. That’s another thing Zaymar is happy about. He says, “I was super excited. I fell in love with Community-Based. I got to meet his family, and Tyler and I could go out and do things.” Tyler’s influence was impactful, Zaymar says, “One major thing I’ve learned from him is perseverance. Whatever life throws at me, I choose to make it a positive or negative. I have to see it through the right way.”
Tyler and Zaymar have been to a lot of Xavier basketball games, Reds games, and got to see a Bengals game—Zaymar’s first—from a corporate suite. Zaymar and his mother came to Tyler’s wedding in 2015. Tyler says, “I didn’t know where this would lead when we were matched. I feel fortunate we’ve been together all this time. It speaks to the foundation about Big Brothers Big Sisters lets you build. BBBS provides the opportunity. I can make such a difference doing small things, just spending time.”
As for Zaymar, he says, “Tyler will be with me for the rest of my life. It means the world to me to have someone who will listen to me. Big Brothers Big Sisters affected my life and I always love to give back in the ways that I can, so when I am old enough, I want to be a Big Brother. That’s how I can say thank you.” And that is something to smile about.
Zaymar and Tyler are one of many Big Brothers Big Sisters matches celebrating a graduation this year, and they all have a years-long story to tell. Many more children are waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister—there is a critical need for new volunteers.
Are you ready to be a Big Brother or Big Sister? We have children on our waiting list ready to be matched and our professional staff are ready to talk with you. Apply today and help us help more kids! #CincyBigs
More good news from Zaymar is his ongoing friendship with his Big Brother Tyler Connell. The two were matched in our Site-Based program at St. Francis Seraph in 2011, when Zaymar was in 4th grade. Zaymar remembers, “It was about the little things, knowing I could see him every week was important to me. We’d get my lunch and have a race up the stairs, then see who could chug a carton of milk the fastest. I didn’t really have a male role model and Tyler was somebody I could count on.”
Tyler recalls wondering if his visits meant much to Zaymar, and then, when he had to miss one week because of work, he heard Zaymar had been asking about him and that he couldn’t wait for him to come back. He also remembers that, early on, Zaymar didn’t care much about school or grades or the future. Tyler made sure to let him know that he did care, and that Zaymar should too, and says, “I talked with him about focusing on what’s important, gave him ideas about where to funnel time and energy. Over time, he focused in school and on extra-curriculars, it’s been fun to watch that. I’m proud of him. He does well in school, and the band is great and he has a really good group of friends.”
After a few years in the Site-Based mentoring program, the two decided to switch to Community-Based so they would have more flexibility to get together. That’s another thing Zaymar is happy about. He says, “I was super excited. I fell in love with Community-Based. I got to meet his family, and Tyler and I could go out and do things.” Tyler’s influence was impactful, Zaymar says, “One major thing I’ve learned from him is perseverance. Whatever life throws at me, I choose to make it a positive or negative. I have to see it through the right way.”
Tyler and Zaymar have been to a lot of Xavier basketball games, Reds games, and got to see a Bengals game—Zaymar’s first—from a corporate suite. Zaymar and his mother came to Tyler’s wedding in 2015. Tyler says, “I didn’t know where this would lead when we were matched. I feel fortunate we’ve been together all this time. It speaks to the foundation about Big Brothers Big Sisters lets you build. BBBS provides the opportunity. I can make such a difference doing small things, just spending time.”
As for Zaymar, he says, “Tyler will be with me for the rest of my life. It means the world to me to have someone who will listen to me. Big Brothers Big Sisters affected my life and I always love to give back in the ways that I can, so when I am old enough, I want to be a Big Brother. That’s how I can say thank you.” And that is something to smile about.
Zaymar and Tyler are one of many Big Brothers Big Sisters matches celebrating a graduation this year, and they all have a years-long story to tell. Many more children are waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister—there is a critical need for new volunteers.
Are you ready to be a Big Brother or Big Sister? We have children on our waiting list ready to be matched and our professional staff are ready to talk with you. Apply today and help us help more kids! #CincyBigs
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati is to ignite, empower, and defend potential in our youth through powerful 1-to-1 relationships. We hurt when we see racism and injustice. Our Black staff, Bigs, Littles, families and supporters are among those hurting the most. When we see these community members unjustly suffering as the victims of inequality and violence, we suffer with them.
Defending potential means that we will stand up for what is right and use our voices and action to help our kids when they need us the most. Unacceptable acts of violence, like we witnessed with George Floyd and countless others, make our mission even more critical. By connecting Bigs and Littles, bridging gaps between races and cultures, creating life-changing friendships, and empowering voices to speak out against injustice, we can help be part of the change.
We are against violence, racism, injustice, and inequality. We stand for connection, inclusion, positivity, and empowerment.
Defending potential means that we will stand up for what is right and use our voices and action to help our kids when they need us the most. Unacceptable acts of violence, like we witnessed with George Floyd and countless others, make our mission even more critical. By connecting Bigs and Littles, bridging gaps between races and cultures, creating life-changing friendships, and empowering voices to speak out against injustice, we can help be part of the change.
We are against violence, racism, injustice, and inequality. We stand for connection, inclusion, positivity, and empowerment.
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While our offices are closed we are still making new matches and supporting existing ones as the communities we serve deal with the Coronavirus. Now more than ever, the children in our community need positive adult role models to defend their potential during these difficult times.