At just 11 years old, Jacob had already learned that life could ask a lot of a kid. With his parents absent from his life and his grandparents serving as his primary guardians, he often had to grow up faster than he should have. He needed someone to help carry some of that weight, someone who would show up, offer guidance, and remind him he was still a kid who deserved to have fun.

His grandmother knew how important it was for Jacob to have a positive male role model, so she turned to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. After nearly two years of waiting, Jacob was matched with Buddy, a 60-year-old retired veteran and pilot. What began as a mentoring match grew into a lifelong bond neither of them could have anticipated.

Shortly after their match, Jacob experienced a profound loss when his grandfather passed away. During this difficult time, Buddy became more than a mentor. He became a steady, trusted presence in Jacob’s life. As their bond grew, Jacob asked if he could call Buddy “Dad,” a reflection of the deep connection they had built and the place Buddy had come to hold in his family.

Looking back, Jacob says Buddy gave him back his childhood. After growing up quickly in his household, he finally had someone who encouraged him to enjoy being a kid. Together, they made memories through fishing trips, baseball games, and learning to play golf. These seemingly simple outings became some of the most meaningful moments of Jacob’s childhood.

But Buddy’s impact didn’t stop when Jacob grew up.

The two were formally matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay for seven years, until Jacob aged out of the program. Throughout every new chapter, Buddy remained in his corner. He cheered Jacob on as he graduated, served four years in the Marines, started a family, and began pursuing a career in teaching.

For Jacob, Buddy’s presence has been a constant reminder that he doesn’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. For Buddy, watching Jacob grow into the man he is today has been a rewarding part of their journey together.

Their story is a powerful reminder that mentoring is about so much more than spending time together. It’s about showing up consistently, building trust, creating lasting memories, and becoming someone a young person can count on for years to come.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, we believe every child deserves a caring adult in their corner. Buddy and Jacob’s relationship shows what can happen when someone chooses to make that commitment: a mentor becomes a role model, a role model becomes family, and a relationship changes a life forever.

Some moments are about more than a game. For Nate, his Big Jeff, and Nate’s Little, Asher, a trip to the ballpark became a memory they will all treasure, and a powerful reminder of how mentorship can shape a life. 

On September 19, the trio took to the field at a Tampa Bay Rays game as part of the TD SYNNEX Double Play initiative, which selected Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay as its charity of choice. Following a special check presentation, Asher stepped onto the field to throw out the first pitch, right to his Big, Nate. 

For Nate, the moment carried an extra layer of meaning. Early in his own mentoring relationship with Jeff, Nate had the opportunity to stand on that same field and throw the first pitch to his Big. Jeff was there for Nate through the years, offering encouragement, support, guidance, and, most importantly, the consistency of having a caring adult in his corner. Nate knows firsthand the difference a Big can make in a young person’s life. 

Now, years later, Nate has the opportunity to provide that same kind of support for Asher. Sharing the experience with his Little created a full-circle moment, one that reflects how the impact of a mentoring relationship can extend far beyond the time a Big and Little spend together. Nate experienced the power of having someone believe in him, and today, he gets to be that person for Asher. 

For Asher, getting to throw the first pitch was a moment he won’t soon forget. 

“It was really special to throw the first pitch,” Asher shared. “I’m excited I got to keep the ball I threw. This is my fifth collectible ball, and I’m really excited to add it to my collection.” 

But the significance of the day went far beyond stepping onto a Major League field or adding a new ball to a collection. It was about creating a BIG memory with someone Asher knows will show up for him, someone who listens, encourages him, celebrates his accomplishments, and makes time for the moments that matter. 

Thanks to the generosity of TD SYNNEX and the Tampa Bay Rays, the Double Play initiative is helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay create more opportunities for young people across our nine-county service area. Their support helps make moments like Nate and Asher’s possible, while giving more youth the opportunity to experience the lasting impact of having a Big in their corner. 

Interested in becoming a Big? Click here to learn more. 

When Joe Donaldson first met Et Winzer, he was just six years old and unsure of what to expect from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. His grandmother had enrolled him in the program, hoping to provide him with a positive influence and trusted adult in his life.

Et had recently moved to Tampa from the Washington, D.C. area when the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay team came to his office in the late 1990s to recruit volunteers.

He agreed to become a Big and initially planned to meet his Little at school during the lunch hour. Et was told his Little might be shy and distant. Instead, Joe walked into the room with a big smile.

That first meeting marked the beginning of a relationship that would shape both of their lives.

What started with school lunches, Oreo cookies, milk, and games of Connect Four soon grew into something much deeper. Et eventually transitioned from school-based visits to a traditional community-based match, picking Joe up almost every weekend. They explored new places, took road trips, attended activities, and simply spent time together.

For Joe, those experiences opened his eyes to possibilities he hadn’t known existed.

Growing up without his mother and father, Joe was raised by his grandmother, Agnes, who gave him a strong foundation of love, honesty, morals, and faith. But Et introduced Joe to another kind of possibility: seeing a man who looked like him living a life Joe hadn’t imagined for himself.

“He showed me what was possible,” Joe recalls.

Et taught Joe how to carry himself, how to communicate, how to take responsibility and, perhaps most importantly, how to believe in himself. One lesson in particular has stayed with Joe throughout his life.

As a child, Joe once tried to explain away trouble he had gotten into by blaming the people around him. Et challenged him to take accountability for the choices he made and the company he kept.

Joe didn’t like hearing it at first. But eventually, he realized Et was right. That lesson became a foundation for the man Joe would become.

Over the years, their relationship grew far beyond the traditional definition of a mentoring match. Joe became part of Et’s family and Et became part of Joe’s Village. Et attended Joe’s school and activities. Joe visited Et’s office during school breaks and even ushered at Et’s wedding.

In 2010, Joe and Et were recognized as Big and Little of the year. But their story didn’t end there. Although their official match eventually concluded, their relationship continued for more than 15 years and counting.

Et is proud of the husband, father, and person Joe has become and Joe considers Et much more than a Big Brother.

“He is like a father to me,” Joe says. “They say you can’t choose your father or mother. That’s okay, because God chose mine.”

For Et, the relationship is a reminder that giving back doesn’t always feel like a grand gesture. Sometimes, it is simply showing up consistently, sharing your experiences, and helping a young person see a world of possibilities.

Joe and Et’s story is proof that a mentoring relationship can evolve, grow, and last a lifetime. Their match may have started with a school visit in Tampa, but it became something neither of them could have predicted: a lifelong bond.