Little Brother Anthony & Big Couple Sydney and Cameron: 2026 Match of the Year

Bigs Cameron and Sydney signed up to become mentors together with the hopes that they could build a strong, beneficial mentoring relationship within the Indianapolis community. Just a short time after they applied in July of 2021, they were matched up with Little Brother Anthony.  

Anthony, Cameron, and Sydney were matched because of their many common interests – being outside, being active, and playing games. Also, Cameron and Sydney are geologists, which fit well with Anthony’s dreams of becoming a scientist.  

When Cameron and Sydney think back to their very first time meeting Anthony, they recall a lot of excitement, and a lot of nerves. Sydney said, “We were excited to meet you, but also a little nervous. This relationship was unlike anything we’d done before, and, what if you didn’t like us?” 

At their match introduction, Anthony shared that he was hoping he could gain people that he could trust from this experience. While Cameron and Sydney knew this wouldn’t be something that happened instantly, they were excited to earn and build Anthony’s trust over time.  

Their first few hangouts were spent taking walks downtown and discussing their favorite game – Zelda. Cameron recalls that during one of these walks, Sydney fell behind, and Anthony was the one to notice. He paused both the conversation and their walk to let her catch up. While it may seem small, this act really stuck out to Cameron and Sydney for how considerate it was – a quality they still see so much of within Anthony.  

As they got to know one another and spend more time together – Cameron and Sydney encouraged Anthony to try new things. For instance, Cameron and Sydney brought Anthony to North Mass Boulder to give rock climbing a try – something he ended up really enjoying.  

Outside of bouldering, they have gone to see countless movies, worked out at the YMCA, tried many new restaurants, gone on hikes, visited the state fair, played in a Super Smash Bros tournament, went fishing, built an R2-D2 model, visited the zoo, and so much more!  

Anthony feels like being matched with Cameron and Sydney allowed him to have experiences that otherwise would not have been possible. In a letter to Cameron and Sydney, Anthony shared, “Because of you, I was given moments where I found myself truly smiling and laughing without a care in the world, and those moments mean more to me than I can easily put into words.” 

While their match relationship is full of fun experiences, Cameron and Sydney have also been a huge support for Anthony as he builds his future. Together, they’ve attended Career Exploration – an event with the purpose of helping BBBSCI Littles be exposed to various career paths and find helpful resources for ones they’re interested in. As he takes on his final year of high school, Cameron and Sydney have encouraged him to stay focused on the goals he’s set for himself.  

When thinking about Anthony and how they’ve watched him grow up, Cameron and Sydney shared that they’ve also seen his confidence and determination grow. In a letter to Anthony, Sydney said, “That determination carries into everything you do: diving into schoolwork, improving your sleep schedule, repeatedly kicking Cam’s butt in Super Smash Bros, learning new games, and supporting your mom’s recovery with care and love.” 

While Anthony, Cameron, and Sydney will graduate from the BBBSCI program this year – the impact of their match will live on. Cameron and Sydney are excited to see what Anthony will accomplish in the future. Cameron said, “We truly believe you have so much potential, and we’re grateful to be alongside you as you discover it.” 

More than just their time, Anthony appreciates how Cameron and Sydney have shared both their kindness and their presence with him. Anthony said, “I will always carry the appreciation I feel for the memories we’ve made and the warmth you’ve given so freely.”