Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Utah: Bridging the Opportunity Gap

By Becky Hurd, Enrollment Coordinator

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been around for over one hundred years nationally and is still going strong. In St. George alone, there are over fifty active matches with more mentors (Bigs) and youth (Littles) enrolling every month. Gavin* and Oscar* are one of those matches. They have been together almost three years. “I decided to join Big Brothers Big Sisters, and then I fell in love with the program,” said Gavin. “I found out that there weren’t many men who were volunteering. I saw there was a big need, so I enrolled.”

There are currently twenty-two Littles on the waiting list. Youth in the program range in age from six to sixteen, and most face opportunity gaps in their lives. Oscar didn’t live close to his dad. He was struggling socially at school and was in need of a mentor. Gavin was able to establish a strong foundation with him, but it took time and patience. “It honestly comes down to just spending time,” Gavin explained. “By doing that, you have fun and gain trust. Mentors should enjoy the time they share with their Littles, then they can focus on helping them improve their lives.”

In order to create lasting and successful matches, Big Brothers Big Sisters gets to know the mentors and youth through personal interviews. The goal is to pair each of the children enrolled in the program with the best mentor for their needs. “The youth we see coming through our program are incredibly diverse; each one has different challenges and strengths. Because we match based on personality and interests, we need all different kinds of Bigs,” said Becky Hurd, enrollment coordinator. In order to qualify, Bigs must be eighteen years of age or older, be able to pass a background check, participate in an interview process, and complete training. We also ask all Bigs and families to make a minimum one-year commitment.

Jessica,* a single mother, enrolled all three of her boys in the program. “It’s been really neat for me to see the connections that they’ve made with their mentors,” she said. “They’ve been excited about the experiences they’ve had, and I feel like it’s made them happier.” Youth who are enrolled in the program for at least twelve months experience an increase in academic performance and aspirations, improved self-confidence, better peer relationships, and a reduction in risky behaviors. “Having a Big gave me someone to talk to,” said Jessica’s son Carson.* “He’s always texting me, and he’s always there for me.”

But there are additional benefits to Big Brothers Big Sisters that go beyond mentoring; the program not only provides support for the matches but for the families as a whole. Match Support Specialist Tresa Downey communicates with matches every month for the first year. “As I build a relationship with these families, I can assess the family’s individual needs and determine whether they need additional resources for education, therapy, food, or clothing,” she said. Tresa has built a successful Girl Scout troop with Big Sisters and Little Sisters and has organized and facilitated a Big support group. She also sends out a newsletter every month that lets Bigs know about activities scheduled in the community and provides valuable knowledge and resources.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Big or a Little, please fill out an application online at www.bbbsu.org. With your help, Big Brothers Big Sisters can create a brighter future for all of the children in southern Utah so that they can achieve their full potential. *Names have been changed to protect anonymity.

About the Author

Becky Hurd has been the enrollment and recruitment coordinator with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Utah since 2021. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern Utah University. Prior to working for a nonprofit, she worked with adults with disabilities, in child welfare, and in residential treatment facilities. She lives with her three children in Washington, Utah.