(Indianapolis, IN) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI), in collaboration with Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), celebrated a record-breaking ”500 Bigs by the Indy 500” volunteer recruitment campaign with 638 potential volunteers sharing their interest in becoming mentors, or “Bigs.”
With 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 is proud to take part in this successful collaboration once again this year,” said Penske Entertainment Vice President, External Affairs and Senior Corporate Counsel, Jimmie McMillian. “We are excited to celebrate a record-breaking year for this campaign and honored to be part of a community that sees the power of mentorship.”
“BBBSCI took on a big goal this year because it really matters to us that every kid in our community has access to relationships, knows they belong, and can participate in opportunities that help them learn and grow. We are so grateful that IMS collaborates with us in a big push to make this happen,” said Darcey Palmer-Shultz, CEO of BBBSCI. “During a season when so many people and the team at IMS is running 230+ mph, our Central Indiana community showed up for each other – especially for our young people – to far surpass our initial goal. And, that’s what makes our community special. So, thank you to IMS and all those who continue to show up to keep kids connected, inspired, and seen.”
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 provides the opportunity to tackle challenges around mental and emotional wellbeing; academic achievement; economic mobility; and positive behaviors and development for young people.
- Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
- The Need: According to the CDC, 40% of youth report feeling persistently sad or hopeless.
- The Proven Opportunity: Mentored youth saw a 16% growth in emotional regulation and a 20% reduction in depressive symptoms compared to non-mentored youth.
- Academic Achievement
- The Need: Districts report that roughly 22% of students missed 10% or more of school days in the 2024-2025 school year.
- The Proven Opportunity: Mentored students are proven to attend school more regularly, perform better academically, and exhibit fewer behavioral problems than their non-mentored peers.
- Economic Mobility
- The Need: More than 75% of youth are concerned about having necessary employment skills, and 74% of young adults lack access to a mentor.
- The Proven Opportunity: Mentored youth earn an average of $200,000 more in lifetime earnings and are 20% more likely to enroll in college than their non-mentored peers.
- Positive Behaviors and Development
- The Need: Young people who lack positive adult guidance face a significantly higher risk of entering the justice system – a pathway with cascading consequences for their futures, their families, and their communities.
- The Proven Opportunity: Mentored youth are 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, 54% less likely to be arrested, and 52% less likely to skip school than non-mentored youth.
Being a mentor, or “Big,” through BBBSCI requires a one-year commitment to be matched with a mentee, or “Little.” Bigs and Littles meet two times 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.
