Big Brothers Big Sisters continues to support local youth through its one-to-one mentoring program, building close connections like the relationship between Big Brother Chris and Little Brother Phillip.
The mentoring organization focuses on individual pairings to provide youth with an additional adult mentor to rely on. These relationships allow mentors to offer guidance, alternate perspectives and support on topics ranging from family life to school and future goals.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for more dedicated people who want to join their mentor program.
Chris has made Phillip an integral part of his personal life, with family and friends frequently asking about the teenager. Last year, Chris included Phillip as a groomsman in his wedding.
“Phillip is like a hugely important part of my life. My family asks about him. My friends ask about him. He was in my wedding last year. He was one of the groomsmen,” Chris said.
Phillip reflected on being included in the wedding party and the impact of their connection.
“It’s honestly crazy. I mean, I probably wouldn’t do that myself. Honestly, I appreciate it,” Phillip said. “I don’t remember what life was like before meeting Chris.”
The pair regularly discuss various aspects of Phillip’s life, including his upcoming football games and family dynamics. For Phillip, having an adult mentor to confide in provides support when dealing with personal situations, such as not seeing his father as often as he would like.
“Just not being able to see my dad as much as I want to and just being able to talk about it with him more than like my family, it helps a lot because I get a different perspective. You know,” Phillip said.
Chris offers ongoing guidance regarding school and decisions after high school, focusing on preparing Phillip for long-term success.
“My goal is for him to be successful in the future and I’ve told him anytime we talk about school life post-high school and all that, like I just want him to have the chance to be the most successful version of himself,” Chris said.
On Tuesday, you can support the organization by attending the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Big Toast.
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
