Saturday May 4, 2013 2:00pm at Leisure Lanes, Lancaster Bowl for Kids' Sake offers everyone in our community a chance to pos...

Make a Donation That Counts When you donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters you are not just changing the lives of children, you...

Make a Donation That Counts When you donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters you are not just changing the lives of children, you...

Former Big Brother Don and his former Little Brother Tim, today.

At just 8 years old Tim already faced challenges that many of us will not face in a lifetime.  Dealing with neglect, foster care, and many other battles, Tim was angry and confused.  Tim never knew his father and his mother was struggling as a single parent.  Tim recalls “Getting me a Big Brother was the best decision my mom ever made.” Tim was introduced to his Big Bother Don in 1976 and his life was forever changed. It took time, but slowly Don earned Tim’s trust, “There are a hundred different things that he did that only took a moment to impact me forever.”

Tim remembers one time hearing Don sing in church, “If you know Don, he doesn’t have a choir voice, but even so I remember being so proud to stand next to him as he sang out real loud.  He just sang louder than everyone and it was so wonderful for me because I always remember seeing him and feeling that I don’t need to be ashamed in life.” Tim credits Don for changing the path he was on and feels certain his life would have ended up in prison or worse, if not for the mentor and friend he found in Don. Tim and Don developed a lifelong friendship and still stay in contact today, 35 years later!  Looking back at his experience as a Big Brother, Don has been forever changed as well, “I just am overwhelmed how much mentoring can help a child. You just don’t realize the influence you can have on somebody when you are willing to give your heart and show them that they can trust you.”