Terry Gault
Rohnert Park, CA
I have been a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay since 2002. I have mentored three Littles during that time.
As a veteran of the corporate world and managing partner of a San Francisco area company, I’ve had a handful of important mentors in my life, and I really wanted to ‘pay it forward.’ Big Brothers Big Sisters is a great way to do that.
When I first met my current Little, Jose, he was very shy and awkward around new people. We were at the Sonoma County Air Museum, walking back to the car when a couple of girls greeted us with an enthusiastic “Hello!” I replied back but Jose didn’t even acknowledge them. When I asked why, he replied, “They weren’t talking to me.” Today, he is quite comfortable speaking to new people including adults that he has just met for the first time.
========================================================================
Nationwide more than 30,000 “Littles” are waiting to be matched with a “Big.”
========================================================================
Many of the Bigs serving as mentors in our local organization (Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay) are encore-age, older folks like myself. It’s a great time in life because you can share your wisdom with someone younger and have a very positive and visible impact on the life of an at-risk kid.