WINONA LAKE — It’s not about the money. It’s not about the social aspect. It’s all about creating a better opportunities for kids. Big Brothers, Big Sisters held its Fourth Annual BIG Celebration Thursday night in Winona Lake. “Just to know that Big Brothers, Big Sisters is here. We have an urgent need for Bigs; we have an urgent need for funding. Everything we do we fundraise in support of our programs,” said Shelley Schwab, development director.

The event is an opportunity to help Big Brothers, Big Sisters not only raise funds to help cover the costs of matches but also bring awareness for the need of mentors. The group started in the area back in 2002 with 38 matched Bigs and Littles. Since then, the group has grown to 220 matched mentorships for around a 500 percent increase. “The beautiful thing about this event is that it’s a friend-raiser not a fundraiser,” said Schwab. “Though at the end we’ll place a soft ask, but we’re hoping to inspire individuals here tonight to become Bigs.”

Schwabb noted the group’s importance to the children in the community as “92 percent of children have improved at reading and math” because of the mentor ship and “little [becoming] 75 percent more likely to graduate.” While the event asked for a donation from anyone attending who felt they could, Schwabb emphasized the need for simply more volunteers to the organizations “with more than 500 kids waiting to be matched.”

The event went on to highlight one of its success stories with Little Brother Nick and Big Brother Russell Webb. The two were matched in 2005 with Webb visiting Nick at lunch at Lincoln Elementary. Nick was slipping in school, struggled to speak and was being made fun of by his friends. “I knew they were making fun of me,” he told the crowd, “But I still hung out with them so I didn’t have to be alone.” Over the years, Webb poured into Nick, eventually expanding their relationship beyond the school yard.

Nick now is 22 years old and presented a speech flawlessly for the event. “How many of you have given a speech in front of a room this size by the age of 22,” asked Webb. “Less than 10 of you, and he just did it flawlessly.”

To start the event though, Big Brothers, Big Sisters celebrated a standout member of the community with the 2017 Charles D. “Charlie” Smith Award. Big Brothers, Big Sisters named Ernie Wiggins as the standout citizen to set a high standard of volunteerism in the community. Wiggins has become a big advocated for Big Brothers, Big Sisters over the years as well as a donor to the organization. He “has helped the agency grow into the premier mentoring organization that it is today.” Wiggins was a graduate from Warsaw High School.

Signing up to become a Big as well as any donations can be made at www.bbbsnei.org or by calling (574) 306-2178. Big Brothers, Big Sisters is also hoping to match 50 more Bigs and Littles before the end of thee year. Donations will go towards matching Bigs and Littles with every match costing around a thousand dollars, covering interviews, background checks, training and more. “There’s cost associated with every match. It costs a little bit over a thousand dollars a year to support one single match of a Big and Little, and that provides a year of case management as well… It’s not so much overhead or textile or product. It’s services we provide.”