Chloe Holliday, Author at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana

(Indianapolis, IN) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI), in collaboration with Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), celebrated a successful ”500 Bigs by the Indy 500” volunteer recruitment campaign with 584 potential volunteers sharing their interest in becoming mentors, or “Bigs.”

With close to 1,000 young people waiting for one-to-one mentoring services in Central Indiana, BBBSCI and IMS worked together to elevate the need for more caring mentors to support kids throughout Marion, Hamilton, and Johnson counties.

“IMS knew that Indy would step up in this moment because that’s what our community does,” said Penske Entertainment Senior Vice President Allison Melangton. “We are grateful to be in the position where the Central Indiana community wants to give back, and IMS wants to celebrate this successful campaign as much as we all celebrate the historic Indianapolis 500 each year!”

“BBBSCI is so proud to be part of a community that uplifts kids and their potential to thrive,” says Darcey Palmer-Shultz, CEO of BBBSCI. “With each person who has taken the first step to become a mentor, our community is answering the call of hundreds of kids and families who want just one more person to be part of the village it takes to support a young person. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. And, let’s keep it going.”

Below, see some of the matches that were made from the “500 Bigs by the Indy 500” campaign.

BBBS has been a leader in mentorship for 120 years, and BBBSCI has served this community for 50+ years. We use evidence-based mentoring practices that show that mentorship is good for young people, good for the economy, and good for society.

Through a groundbreaking economic impact study focused on the BBBS mentoring program, it has shown that:

Littles are 20% more likely to enroll in college after high school graduation;

Littles enter the workforce earning more than their non-mentored peers, and they experience 15% higher income between the ages of 20 and 25 years old; and

Littles’ income as adults was more closely aligned with the higher income of their Bigs than their family – closing two-thirds of the socio-economic gap for Littles compared to non-mentored young people.

Being a mentor, or “Big,” through BBBSCI requires a one-year commitment to be matched with a mentee, or “Little.” Bigs and Littles meet 4-6 hours per month, and together, they enjoy activities provided by BBBSCI and their partners or find activities within their community. To learn more about becoming a Big, visit www.bebigforkids.org/volunteer.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana recently celebrated the Littles and Bigs graduating from our mentorship program at Celebrate Mentoring, sponsored by AES Indiana. On Sunday, April 27, our graduating matches, accompanied by their family and friends, gathered at Newfields to commemorate and celebrate their accomplishment.

The 2025 graduating BBBSCI class consists of 81 matches – made up of one-to-one mentoring relationships as well as Big Friend and Big Couple three-to-one mentoring relationships. Some of these Bigs and Littles have been matched 1 year, while others have been matched more than 10 years. No matter the duration, we know that the friendships built through these mentoring relationships are transformative.

At the Celebrate Mentoring graduation ceremony, our Littles and Bigs crossed the stage to receive their program certificate of achievement. Previous matches of the year and sponsorship recipients were also highlighted in the program! Throughout this exciting evening, guests also heard from a graduating Big, a graduating Little, and a parent of a Little – giving the audience all possible perspectives of a mentoring relationship.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana wants to extend a huge congratulations to all graduating matches. For our graduating Littles – we cannot wait to see the big things that are in store for your futures.

In October of 2024, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana joined forces with Indiana Sports Corp and Big Ten to kick off a series of programming known as Careers in Sports. Careers in Sports aims to educate Littles in the BBBSCI program on the various careers in sports outside of becoming a professional athlete.

The initial Careers in Sports session allowed a group of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Bigs and Littles to learn all about the media, press, and sports broadcasting prior to a Big Ten Championship football game. Littles gained a true hands-on experience as they were able to field questions at a press table inside of Lucas Oil Stadium, tour the CBS broadcast truck where all the magic happens, visit the press box – the highest seat in the house, and test out the pyrotechnics. They also gained valuable insight from speaking to the lead Athletic Trainer from St. Vincent.

Following these once-in-a-lifetime experiences, our Littles wrapped up the afternoon with a luncheon featuring Tony Petitti, Big Ten Commissioner, and Anthony Calhoun, WISH-TV Sports Anchor. They of course got to snap some photos with these two, capturing a day spent diving deeper into the professional world of sports! Not only that, but our matches were also gifted tickets to the Penn State versus Oregon Big Ten Championship football game so that they could see the media, press, and broadcasting in action on game day.

For the final Careers in Sports session in March, our Bigs and Littles learned all about the marketing, community engagement, broadcasting, and business that takes place when it comes to professional basketball. In preparation for the Big Ten Basketball games, matches started their day off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for breakfast. Here, they had the opportunity to hear from Andy Katz, Digital Reporter, Analyst, and Host for NCAA. Katz shared valuable insight on his work as a key figure in NCAA tournament coverage – analyzing bracket predictions, sharing team performances, and providing behind-the-scenes content. Our Littles were also able to ask Katz questions about his career journey and day-to-day work. Following this excitement, our Bigs and Littles were given tickets to Big Ten Men’s basketball game that took place that same day!

We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Indiana Sports Corp and Big Ten for allowing our matches to have such special, once-in-a-lifetime experiences! More importantly, we are so excited about the valuable information our Littles who are considering professional careers in the sports world are gaining from the Careers in Sports series.

(Indianapolis, IN) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI), in collaboration with Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), officially announced today a volunteer campaign to recruit “500 Bigs by the Indy 500.”

From March 19 through May 25, the day of the 109^th Running of the Indianapolis 500, BBBSCI and IMS will be working together to share the need and urgency for more mentors in the Central Indiana community. With over 1,200 young people who are waiting for a mentor in Central Indiana, BBBSCI and IMS are looking for 500 community members to step up and take the first step to become a mentor.

“IMS is excited to partner with BBBSCI yet again to connect more kids with impactful mentors,” said Penske Entertainment Senior Vice President Allison Melangton. “We understand the importance of connection within our community, and we hope to bring more people together through both racing and mentorship this season.”

“There is no city that rallies around their community like Indianapolis, and we are so grateful to IMS for collaborating with us again to give back to our community,” says Darcey Palmer-Shultz, CEO of BBBSCI. “Mentorship is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to change the trajectory of a kid’s life. With so many young people asking for another supportive person in their corner, we know that Central Indiana will show up to make sure that every child feels seen, appreciated, and valued.”

BBBS has been a leader in mentorship for 120 years, and BBBSCI has served this community for 50+ years. We use evidence-based mentoring experiences that show that mentorship is good for young people, good for the economy, and good society:

Good for Young People – In the long term, adults who’ve had a positive mentor experience greater health benefits, reduced isolation, and live longer lives. People who have experienced mentorship are:
- Two times more likely to be involved in and hold leadership positions;
- 41% less likely to engage in substance abuse; and
- Two times more likely to enroll in post-secondary education.

Good for the Economy – Mentorship plays a crucial role in bridging capital and fostering upward economic mobility with evidence showing that creating economic connectedness in childhood leaders to higher income in adulthood.

Good for Society – Mentoring builds stronger social connections across diverse groups, leading to a more connected society across socioeconomic, racial, and geographic lines.

To learn more about BBBSCI and the 500 Bigs by the Indy 500 campaign, visit www.bebigforkids.org/500by500.

On January 30, 2025 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana held our National Mentoring Month celebration event; The Big Spark. With some current Bigs and many prospective Bigs, our audience enjoyed a meaningful night of inspiration.

We heard from a variety of individuals on the importance of mentorship. Charlotte Hiatt, the mother of waiting Little Chayse, emphasized the need we have for more mentors in our community and how her family has benefitted from the power of mentorship over the past several years.

We also heard a deeply personal and impactful story from Aaron Green, the CEO of Struggle University. Using his real life experiences, especially as a former Little in the BBBS program, he reminded us just how much of a difference mentorship can make in a young person’s life.

Along with hearing from these inspiring guest speakers, we also had the chance to meet our 2025 Matches of the Year; Little Brother Blaze and Big Brother Rick, Little Sister Jamie and Big Sister Jaleesa, and Little Sister Aniya and Big Sister Hailey. Congratulations to these matches!

We left The Big Spark feeling motivated and ready to make change in our community. If you want to impact the life of a young person through mentorship, you can become a Big at bebigforkids.org/volunteer. It Takes Little to be Big.

This National Mentoring Month, we’ve partnered with Starbucks to help us give a huge thank you to our Bigs. On every Friday during the month of January, active Bigs can redeem a free, tall [12oz.] drink of your choice from a participating Starbucks location!

Present your BBBSCI volunteer ID card or your promotional postcard at participating Central Indiana Starbucks stores to receive your free tall beverage (12 fl. oz.) beverage on January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31.

Click here to find a participating Starbucks store near you!

Note: Starbucks counters located inside retail stores, hotels, airports, etc. are not participating in this promotion.

On September 26, 2024, Eli Lilly and Company partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana for their annual community-service campaign known as Lilly Global Day of Service. On this day, volunteers helped to spread the mission of mentorship by delivering Big Brothers Big Sisters yard signs across central Indiana.

For our 10^th year of partnership, we had the opportunity to work with a brand-new group of 40+ volunteers from Eli Lilly and Company known as Chorus. They are described as “an integrated team of drug developers providing IND-enabling and clinical development capabilities.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana hosted a kickoff breakfast for all our Eli Lilly and Company volunteers where they had the opportunity to learn more about our organization and fuel up before heading out to deliver signs.

In total, our volunteers delivered over 650 Big Brothers Big Sisters signs to yards, schools, and businesses across Marion, Johnson, and Hamilton county.

We are immensely grateful to Eli Lilly and Company and the Chorus team for playing an integral role in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana’s largest annual grassroots awareness campaign!

Big Brother Bob Rath with Little Brother Xavier.

I am a Colombian American who grew up in Indianapolis at a time when there were very few Hispanics in Indiana, only around one percent. My dad passed away when I was just three years old, leaving my Colombian mother to raise four young children, aged three to ten, on her own.

The 1970s were a difficult time for single mothers and for immigrants in Indiana. Finding employment, obtaining credit, and buying used cars were just a few of the barriers faced by women, especially immigrant single mothers.

We felt lucky to have an international aspect to life – in cuisine, books, décor, perspective. But, in some ways, it just seemed normal to us. I remember an incident when I was about five years old. Someone made a comment about my mom’s accent, and I wondered, “what accent?” She spoke limited English before marriage and always had a strong accent, but it was just normal to me.

Our nearest relatives were in eastern Ohio and New Jersey, and most of my family lived in Colombia. Mom was our only daily adult influence, and we think she did a great job raising four kids on her own, always a proud Colombian.

My appreciation of my heritage grew over time, especially as an undergraduate at Indiana University. As a senior preparing to graduate from college, I sought opportunities to work internationally. I began my career at RCA and had several assignments in Mexico, where I met and married my wife, Alma.

“My Hispanic heritage has influenced every aspect of my life, for which I am a happy and proud Hispanic Hoosier.”

We speak Spanish at home, our three kids are bilingual, we have all worked with international organizations or clients/students, and we visit family in Mexico when possible.

My Hispanic heritage has influenced every aspect of my life, for which I am a happy and proud Hispanic Hoosier.

Bob and Xavier at the Indianapolis Zoo around Día de los Muertos.

Xavier’s father was from Mexico but has not been present in his life. Xavier expressed an interest in connecting with his heritage, which I believe was a factor in our being matched by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana. Being Hispanic American is something important that we share and appreciate.

We have attended several international events together, including Fiesta Indianapolis, Fiesta Lawrence, and Día de los Muertos celebrations. Xavier has enjoyed trying cuisine from different parts of Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela. He even started to make breakfast burritos at home!

Celebrations of heritage were not very common in Indiana when I was growing up. I love that people now gather to celebrate so many aspects of their lives, including heritage and identity. Many families, like mine growing up, are unable to visit their family abroad. Events like Hispanic Heritage Month bring people together here, in Central Indiana, to celebrate their culture with people from all cultures.

A couple of events predate Hispanic Heritage Month but laid a foundation, locally. For our family and many others, Indianapolis became a brand-new city after hosting the Tenth Pan American Games in 1987. Never had so much Spanish been spoken in Indianapolis! Fiesta Indianapolis was a big deal in the 1980s, also. Mom was a founding member of the Sociedad Amigos de Colombia and would cook flan for the SADCO booth at Fiesta in the early years.

Xavier and I will be at Fiesta Indianapolis again this year, for sure!

INDIANAPOLIS (September 26,2024) – On September 26, 2024, Reggie Wayne will address hundreds of top business and civic leaders at Lucas Oil Stadium for The Main Event with Title Sponsor Delta Faucet Company and benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI).

Reggie Wayne, entering his third season as the Indianapolis Colts’ wide receivers coach, has made significant contributions both on and off the field. During his tenure, the Colts’ offense has consistently ranked among the top in the NFL, with players like Michael Pittman Jr. achieving career-high statistics under Wayne’s guidance. A first-round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, Wayne set franchise records for the Colts, earned six Pro Bowl selections, won a Super Bowl ring, and secured induction into the team’s Ring of Honor. During The Main Event, BBBSCI will also recognize their annual Community Mentor Award honoree – this year, in legacy of Jim Morris of Pacers Sports & Entertainment – and their 2024 class of Alumni Hall of Fame Bigs & Littles.

 The Main Event is a traditionally sports-themed event that has long been one of the city’s premier fundraisers, raising over $400,000 for BBBSCI. “At Delta Faucet Company, we believe deeply in the power that connection and relationships have on our community. We are honored to partner with BBBSCI to support the work they do in central Indiana to connect kids with caring mentors and proud of our employees that serve as Bigs to support this mission,” stated Joe Rogalski, Vice President – Information Services of Delta Faucet Company and Board member for BBBSCI.

“We can’t wait to host The Main Event in Lucas Oil Stadium for the very first time with the legendary Reggie Wayne,” shared Darcey Palmer-Shultz, CEO of BBBSCI. “Each year, BBBSCI is blown away by our community’s support, which shows a commitment to making sure every kid has somebody by their side to guide them, encourage them, and inspire them.”

“I am so excited to be a part of The Main Event and BBBSCI’s mission,” said Reggie Wayne, celebrity guest speaker at the event. “Mentors in my life have guided me through the toughest challenges to find my greatest achievements, and I have had the opportunity to mentor many young people during my coaching career. BBBSCI truly exemplifies the importance of and commitment to connection in central Indiana.”

Good for Young People – In the long term, adults who’ve had a positive mentor experience greater health benefits, reduced isolation, and live longer lives. People who have experienced mentorship are:

Two times more likely to be involved in and hold leadership positions;

41% less likely to engage in substance abuse; and

Two times more likely to enroll in post-secondary education.

Good for the Economy – Mentorship plays a crucial role in bridging capital and fostering upward economic mobility with evidence showing that creating economic connectedness in childhood leaders to higher income in adulthood.

Good for Society – Mentoring builds stronger social connections across diverse groups, leading to a more connected society across socioeconomic, racial, and geographic lines.

To learn more about BBBSCI and The Main Event, visit https://www.bebigforkids.org/event/the-main-event-2024/.