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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 109th 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: 

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. 

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 10th 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.” 

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: 

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. 

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

Crew Carwash to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters for a fundraising event at all locations

INDIANAPOLIS (July 11, 2024) – Crew Carwash, an Indiana-based family business, is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters for its fifteenth annual Crew for Kids fundraiser.

“Since 1948, Crew Carwash has consistently given back to our local communities, thanks to the support of our incredible teams,” said Bill Dahm, CEO of Crew Carwash. “We are proud to host Crew for Kids annually with Big Brothers Big Sisters to support the kids of Indiana and Minnesota.”

As part of its Crew for Kids fundraiser, Crew will be donating 50% of the proceeds from the Ultimate Wash to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The event will take place Saturday, July 27, at all 48 locations. Select Crew Carwash locations will host local officials, mascots, and other special guests on-site for the fundraiser. Crew will be accepting credit and cash donations at all locations and will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.


Funds raised will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies that serve markets in which Crew has locations. The agencies to receive the proceeds from this fundraiser include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lafayette, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wabash Valley, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bartholomew County and
Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities.


“As we approach our 15th annual Crew for Kids event, our team at Crew Carwash is excited to continue our support for Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Sally Grant, Executive Vice President of Crew Carwash. “We are honored to be a part of an initiative that offers impactful opportunities for youth in our community to reach their full potential.”


Last year, Crew raised more than $180,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters. In total, the company has raised over $1,000,000 for the nonprofit since its inaugural Crew for Kids fundraiser in 2010.


“We are excited for this year’s Crew for Kids event, which raises funds and awareness towards connecting more kids in our community with mentors. Beyond mentorship, BBBSCI provides kids with social connection through a mentor who will stand by them and support them as they navigate growing up,” said Darcey Palmer-Shultz, CEO of BBBSCI. “Our team at BBBSCI is continually grateful for the customers and team members at Crew Carwash for coming out to make this event a success and
support our community’s young people.”


To view event details and to RSVP, please visit the Facebook event page here.

To learn more about Crew, visit www.crewcarwash.com. Customers can connect with Crew on social media on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit www.bbbs.org or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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About Crew Carwash
Family owned since 1948, Crew Carwash is one of the largest carwash companies in the United States. With over 1,000 full-time and part-time employees, Crew Carwash has been named Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work for the past several years. Crew Carwash strives to provide clean, fast, and friendly service to every customer. With locations in Indiana and Minnesota, Crew is continuing to expand in the Midwest. For more information and a location list, please visit www.crewcarwash.com.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers
Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters has over 230 local agencies serving more than 5,000 communities across all 50 states. Learn more at www.bbbs.org.

Indianapolis Indians, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana Sports Corp, & Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Partner to Recruit 300 Men in 3 Months

(Indianapolis, IN) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI), in partnership with the Indianapolis Indians, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), and Indiana Sports Corp, officially announced today a community campaign to “Rally for MENtors” with a goal of recruiting 300 men to volunteer as mentors over the next three months.

BBBSCI will launch its “Rally for MENtors: 300 Men in 3 Months” campaign on April 1, 2024, which shares the urgency and demand for more mentors, especially men, needed in our community. With more than 1,000 kids, including 800 boys, in Central Indiana waiting for mentors, BBBSCI, Indianapolis Indians, IMS, and Indiana Sports Corp are working together to recruit 300 men to become Bigs between April 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024. Each month will feature one of our partners – asking community members to “Step Up to the Plate” with the Indianapolis Indians in April, “Fuel Up Futures” with the IMS in May, and “Stretch for the Finish” with Indiana Sports Corp during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming in June.

“The Indianapolis Indians has been honored to work alongside BBBSCI for well over a decade to encourage and recruit more men to become mentors for kids in our community,” stated Joel Zawacki, Assistant General Manager of the Indianapolis Indians. “To know that 800 boys are waiting for a mentor of their own reinforces our drive to do our part in Central Indiana.”

“IMS is excited to partner, once again, with BBBSCI to find more mentors to pair with the hundreds of kids, especially boys, waiting for a Big,” said Penske Entertainment Senior Vice President, Allison Melangton. “Through our continued partnership, we hope see that waiting list get down to zero soon.”

“For 45 years, Indiana Sports Corp embraced the challenge of bringing and hosting the best sporting events to Indianapolis each year, and now, we’re gearing up to embark on yet another challenge to our entire community – helping to make sure that every kid who wants a mentor gets one,” said Indiana Sports Corp President Patrick Talty. “Through this campaign and many future events, we are looking forward to partnering with BBBSCI to elevate the need and encourage more people to get involved with their community.”

“Being a mentor is all about spending just a little bit of time to be there for a young person and to connect them to experiences that help them explore and grow. The truth is mentoring happens in everyday moments, but it can also include some special memories like watching a baseball game together at Victory Field, joining in the tradition and thrill of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, or cheering for athletes competing to make the 2024 Olympic team,” says Darcey Palmer-Shultz, CEO of BBBSCI. “We don’t take it lightly that when we called for help, the Indians, IMS, and Indiana Sports Corp immediately stepped up to answer that call. We have too many kids in our community waiting for support, especially too many boys, and as always, we are grateful to have partners who rally together to make a difference.”

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.

To learn more about BBBSCI and the Rally for MENtors: 300 Men in 3 Months campaign, visit https://www.bebigforkids.org/rally-for-mentors-300-men-in-3-months/.

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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana is based in Indianapolis and serves youth and families who reside in Marion, Hamilton, and Johnson counties through one-to-one mentoring relationships with adult volunteers. The Big Brothers Big Sisters vision is that all youth achieve their full potential. To fulfill that vision, the mission of BBBSCI is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. This year, BBBSCI will defend the potential of local youth through 1,100+ mentoring relationships. To volunteer, donate, or for more information, visit www.BeBigForKids.org or call (317) 921-2201.