Big Hearts, Big Family, Big Impacts
Tina, Big Sister Katie, and Little Lay
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, it is not unusual for us to have siblings—even twins—in the program. It is unique, however, for us to have three siblings matched at once. While meaningful for the family, it is not lost on us how meaningful it also is to our Bigs and our entire BBBSCBR community to have each child matched with a mentor who believes in them and wants to help nurture their inherent potential.
The month of July and Greenwood Community Center have been central to the start of the Gardiner family Matches. Kamari (2021), Kareem (2023), and Kalazjah “Lay” (2025) each met their new Big for the first time in July at the center: Jason, Paul, and Katie, respectively. Grandmother Tina recalled that those initial meetings “were a little nerve-wracking for the kids, but good!”
Little Brother Kamari and Big Brother Jason
For Big Brother Jason, his memory of first meeting Little Brother Kamari was that “the pandemic was still taking a toll. I wasn't sure what to expect. Initially, it was a bit challenging to make a connection due to wearing masks at our outings. But slowly, we got to know one another. I recognized that when I was younger, I was also a bit slow to open up, so I wasn't worried.” Kamari remembered “us getting to know each other and talking about what we like to do.” From there, the Match began their mentorship journey. According to Jason, “UVA games are definitely a favorite of ours! It was great to see Kamari so excited. For some of the games, we actually were in the box suites, which was cool. Through sporting events, I was able to see Kamari connect with the experience and saw how it aligned with what made him happy.” Kamari describes Jason as “funny, kind, and helpful,” also noting that “having a Big gives me something to do and someone to hang out with.” For Jason, the most rewarding part of being a Big is “it has been such a valuable experience! Being there for Kamari as he's growing up has been great!”
Big Brother Paul and Little Brother Kareem
Big Brother Paul recalls that he and Little Brother Kareem “hit it off from the get-go!” Kareem remembers them taking a walk and they “talked about what we like to do and thought of activity ideas. We learned that we have stuff in common! In the beginning of the Match, we went fishing quite a bit.” For Paul, “the first time we went fishing and Kareem caught his first fish” is one of his favorite memories. “He was just ear-to-ear grinning! We always have fun. The pickleball tournaments are also a great time!” Kareem also fondly recalls the “1st pickleball tournament! I liked how we got to play more than one person!” Paul and Kareem played in The Big Serve in 2024 and 2025, winning second place in the Match grouping this year. Kareem thinks of Paul as “nice, kind, and funny,” and part of what he likes most about having a Big is “having someone to talk to and hang out with.” When Paul reflects on their time together, he shared that “interacting with someone younger has been great. Watching Kareem grow and mature has been so rewarding.”
Big Sister Katie and Lay
Although Big Sister Katie and Little Sister Lay have only been together for a few months, Katie “just loves her (Lay’s) energy and vibe!” At their first outing at Crozet Creamery, Lay shared that they “sat outside and talked a bit. Plus, we came up with a few match goals!” Lay describes Katie as “funny, energetic, and outgoing” and is excited that she “can get out of the house more” and explore with her new Big Sister, whether chats over ice cream, bowling, or other new experiences.
As a family, each of the kids is happy to have a Big. Kamari thinks “us all being matched gives us something to do and the opportunity to get out of the house.” Kareem shared, “it's nice to have everyone matched,” with Lay echoing her brothers’ sentiments, sharing, “it's nice and a good opportunity. I'm grateful!” Grandmother Tina said, “They all have a good time together. Katie and Lay are a new Match, but they always have fun! Kareem and Paul do a lot together too—hiking, fishing, pickleball, etc. Kamari and Jason have been matched the longest. Jason has done a good job of staying in contact as he and Kamari work through life changes, like Jason having a baby. They've all been so good. The kids love going out with their Bigs!” From the Bigs’ perspective, Paul shared that he’s “glad to see that all the kids are matched! Tina and Ricky do such a great job with the kids. We (each Match) all kind of do our own thing, but it's nice to know the other kids and their Bigs.”
Being a mentor is a significant and meaningful commitment. For those considering becoming a Big, Jason encourages people to “keep expectations open, keep an open mind, and meet your Little where they're at! It can be a very powerful experience and wonderful opportunity that will afford you a different perspective. There have been so many benefits I didn't expect.” Paul echoes this when sharing, “It will be one of the most rewarding things you can do. It's great to give back! I've been involved in many volunteer opportunities, and this has been one of the most enjoyable.”
For kids thinking about having a mentor, the Gardiner siblings have some advice. Kamari encourages kids to “be open to the creativity of the program,” while Kareem says, “have fun!” For parents and guardians considering the value of mentoring, Tina says, “I'd definitely encourage them to sign up! It may take some time to find the right Match, but it's worth it. The kids enjoy it. But the parents enjoy it, too. It's been great getting to know Jason, Paul, and Katie. They become family.”
