SANTA ANA, Calif. – September 30, 2024 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of OC and IE is formally launching its innovative Sports Buddies program in Orange County, following a successful pilot phase that began in fall of 2023. Sports Buddies connects mentors and youth through facilitated sessions promoting a healthy, active lifestyle in a group dynamic.
Sports Buddies goes beyond athletic activities to building meaningful connections, boosting confidence, providing access to new experiences, and creating lasting memories. From the camaraderie of soccer and basketball to the discipline of Jiu-Jitsu and the intensity of boxing, mentors empower youth with access to diverse sports and physical activities.
According to current Sports Buddies Big, David Palacios, “Through participation in the Sports Buddies program, my Little Brother has become more vocal and comfortable talking with other kids. I enjoy sports, but I also enjoy giving back, and this program is a great way to do both. It’s more than just adults teaching the kids, they have something to teach us.”
The program is built around participation in one or two events per month. Each event is planned, supervised and facilitated by Big Brothers Big Sisters, with a staff member in attendance. As a plug-and-play opportunity, Sports Buddies offers a high degree of convenience for participants in these site-based activities.
As a complement to the one-to-one mentoring component, the group approach of Sports Buddies enables positive interactions between all participants for mutual support and encouragement.
“The team dynamic in Sports Buddies is unique because it provides a fun and engaging way for mentors to connect with youth while playing a sport,” said BBBS OC IE Chief Operating Officer Tracy Carmichael. “Mentors and mentees form a true team, supporting one another and building connections that will persist beyond the sports field.”
The target demographic for Sports Buddies is youth ages 11 to 14, a prime time in their lives for outreach and the impact of mentoring. Currently, there are 14 matches (a match consists of one Big and one Little) in the program, with a goal to reach 50 matches by spring of 2025.
The latest program update is a partnership with the NFL Alumni Association’s Southern California chapter. This collaboration will be initiated through Watch Party mixers at area venues designed to showcase the program and inspire new volunteers. Attendees can watch an NFL game with former Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champion and defensive back Walter Thurmond III, an executive leader of the association, plus additional NFL alumni to be revealed, and learn about becoming a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor. The first Watch Party event is scheduled for Sun., Oct. 20, 2024, at The Country Club in Costa Mesa. The second event will be held Sun., Nov. 3, 2024, in Riverside. For additional details, visit ocbigs.org/mentormixer or iebigs.org/mentormixer.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to create and support mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of the next generation. The organization currently has 20,033 alumni, with 3,906 youth served and 101,723 volunteer hours logged in fiscal 2024.
Volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County is a unique opportunity to guide, support and inspire a young person. A diverse selection of programs offers various ways to get involved, including one-to-one mentoring, group activities or school-based support.
There is currently a waiting list of BBBS OC & IE Littles to be matched with a Big for mentoring. Learn more at www.ocbigs.org.
For more information on Sports Buddies, enrolling a child, or signing up as a mentor, visit https://www.ocbigs.org/programs/sports-buddies/.
