From Shawano to Eland and from Bonduel to Tigerton, 18 boys and girls across Shawano County are waiting for a friend, a mentor — a Big Brother or Big Sister.
They are on the waiting list with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin in hopes they will soon be matched with an adult volunteer and bond over shared experiences.
“Our agency covers all of Brown, Door and Shawano counties,” said Keren correct spelling - KP Cotter, program specialist and recruitment manager with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin. “The children in Shawano County are all part of the community-based program, not the site-based one.”
Community-based Bigs meet a few times a month to expose their Littles to community activities, go for walks in the park or enjoy an ice cream cone together.
Site-based Bigs meet during a Little’s lunch or recess at school to read, play games or do a craft.
Right now, 35 Shawano County children benefit through the community-based and site-based programs.
Program specialist Cassiti correct spelling - KP Shultz is the first full-time staff member in Shawano County. Among other duties, she serves as a sounding board for the Bigs and the families of the Littles. She also organizes a few activities in which all can participate.
Nationally, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is teaming up with the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative to launch “The Big Draft” campaign to increase mentorship opportunities across the country. While the NFL begins drafting its next generation of superstar players, BBBSA is committed to recruiting mentors to help mentor and support today’s youths.
Having the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay on April 24-26 is a bonus for the local organization.
“It will help us to increase the visibility of the organization and, in turn, attract more kids and more adults,” Cotter said. “Our mentors can be recent college graduates, middle age men and women and even retirees. They all have unique experiences to share and bring those to the relationship.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin will have a presence near the draft campus in Green Bay.
“We’ll have some activities and recruitment information to share,” Cotter said.
Studies show that children who have role models are more likely to do better in school, have better connections with family and friends and are less likely to be involved in risky behaviors.
Bigs can have a flexible schedule in that there is no mandatory day, time or length of visit required. However, they are asked to visit two to four times every month for a couple of hours each time and commit to the program for a year.
“Many times, the Big stays matched with the Little year after year until there is some life change that alters it,” Cotter said. “Ninety-five percent of the time, the relationship goes beyond a year.”
Once an adult completes an application to be a Big, there is a background check, interview and home visit. The entire process can be completed in less than a month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters tries to match children and adults with similar interests.
While Bigs pay for any outings with their Littles, the organization encourages low- to no-cost activities.
“It’s more important to spend time together than anything else,” Cotter said. “We tell potential Bigs to think of their own mentors and the qualities they had — caring, being a good listener, being a friend and offering support and encouragement.”
As one of the longest-standing partners of the NFL Inspire Change, BBBSA has worked with the initiative since 2019 to share stories of mentorship and the positive impact it has on empowering young people and helping communities connect across racial and economic divides.
The Big Draft campaign will run through the last week of April when the NFL Draft begins. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship and volunteer opportunities, visit https://bbbsnew.org.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Big Brothers Big Sisters teams up with NFL
