Not every mentoring relationship begins with an instant connection.
Like any meaningful relationship, trust takes time. It grows through consistency, patience and the willingness to keep showing up.
That has been true for Big Sister Kristen and Little Sister Alivia. Their relationship did not begin perfectly, but over time, it became a powerful example of what mentorship can make possible.
Through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Endowment Fund at Pinellas Community Foundation, donors can help sustain the organization’s work for the long term—supporting more relationships that give young people the encouragement, stability and confidence they need to thrive.
A Relationship Built Over Time
Kristen and Alivia had been matched for seven months when Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay shared their story with PCF.
Soon after the match began, Kristen had to travel for a family emergency. Once she returned to Florida, she and Alivia finally had their first outing together at the mall.
It was a simple beginning, but an important one.
As they continued getting to know each other, Kristen encountered some of the challenges many new mentors experience, including managing expectations and navigating boundaries. Rather than becoming discouraged, she stayed committed. She communicated openly with her Match Support Specialist and leaned into the professional guidance provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.
That support helped Kristen better understand how to build a relationship around Alivia’s interests, personality and needs.
Learning What Matters to Alivia
For Kristen, one of the most important lessons was allowing the relationship to develop naturally.
“Giving any new match time so that you get to know your Little is really important. Engaging them in conversations about the things they like to do helps you turn those interests into outings.”
As Kristen learned more about Alivia, she discovered that she loved to draw. That interest inspired a visit to the Dalí Museum—an outing shaped not around what Kristen thought they should do, but around something meaningful to Alivia.
Their conversations also began to include school, goals and the future.
Kristen encouraged Alivia to dream big and believe she could become whatever she wanted to be.
That kind of encouragement may seem simple, but for a young person, hearing a trusted adult say, “I believe in you,” can be transformative.
The Impact of Consistency
Over time, Kristen’s dedication began to make a visible difference.
Alivia’s mother noticed improvements in her daughter’s attitude toward school and in her grades. Alivia also began eagerly looking forward to every visit with Kristen.
Those outcomes did not come from one conversation or one outing. They came from a relationship built through patience, consistency and care.
Mentorship is not about having every answer. It is not about being perfect. It is about being present.
By continuing to show up, Kristen helped Alivia feel supported, encouraged and seen.
Their story reflects the core mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay: creating lasting, positive change in the lives of young people through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships. The organization matches youth, known as Littles, with caring adult mentors, known as Bigs, who provide guidance, encouragement and opportunities that help young people build confidence, succeed in school and prepare for brighter futures.
More Than a Match
What makes Big Brothers Big Sisters distinctive is that mentors are not expected to navigate these relationships alone.
Each match is professionally supported. Match Support Specialists help Bigs and Littles work through challenges, set healthy expectations and strengthen communication over time.
Kristen’s experience shows why that support matters.
When she faced uncertainty early in the match, she had someone to turn to. With guidance, she was able to move through those challenges and continue building a meaningful bond with Alivia.
That structure helps turn goodwill into lasting impact.
A volunteer may bring compassion and commitment, but professional support helps ensure the relationship has the tools to grow.
Why Long-Term Support Matters
Relationships like Kristen and Alivia’s require time.
They also require a strong organization behind them—one with the staff, systems and resources to recruit mentors, create thoughtful matches and support those relationships over the long term.
That is why the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Endowment Fund at Pinellas Community Foundation matters.
An endowment is designed to support the future. Gifts contributed to the fund are invested, allowing charitable resources to grow over time and provide lasting support for the organization’s mission.
Annual gifts help address current needs. Endowment gifts help ensure the organization can continue serving young people for years to come.
For donors, that means a contribution can have impact beyond the present moment. It can help strengthen the foundation that makes future mentoring relationships possible.
A gift today can support the systems, people and programs that allow another Big and Little to meet, build trust and grow together tomorrow.
Investing in Potential
Every young person has potential.
Sometimes, realizing that potential begins with having someone who listens, offers encouragement and continues showing up.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay creates the conditions for those relationships to develop. Its mentors provide time and care. Its professional staff provide structure and guidance. Its supporters provide the resources that help sustain the work.
Pinellas Community Foundation helps strengthen that long-term picture by stewarding the organization’s endowment fund.
Through this partnership, donors can support Big Brothers Big Sisters in a way that extends beyond a single program year. They can invest in the organization’s continued ability to help young people develop confidence, improve educational outcomes and envision brighter futures.
Every Child Deserves Someone Who Believes in Them
Kristen and Alivia’s story is a reminder that meaningful change is often gradual.
It happens when someone asks questions and listens to the answers.
It happens when an adult learns what a young person loves and creates opportunities around those interests.
It happens through conversations about school, dreams and what might be possible.
Most of all, it happens when someone keeps showing up.
“Every child deserves someone who believes in them,” said Robyn Ostrem, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. “We are grateful to all our volunteer Big Mentors who dedicate their time to helping transform a child’s life.”
Celebrate Mentorship at the BIG Gala
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay also invited the community to learn more about its BIG Gala.
The event offers supporters an opportunity to come together around the organization’s mission and help strengthen mentoring opportunities for young people throughout the region.
Community members can also become involved by learning more about mentorship, supporting the organization or exploring ways to become a Big.
A Lasting Investment in Brighter Futures
Kristen did not need to be a perfect mentor to make a difference in Alivia’s life.
She needed to be patient. She needed to listen. She needed to accept support—and she needed to keep showing up.
That consistency helped Alivia grow more engaged in school, improve her grades and look forward to time with someone who believed in her.
Through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Endowment Fund at Pinellas Community Foundation, donors can help make more relationships like theirs possible.
It is an investment in mentorship, in potential and in the long-term strength of our community.
Support the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Endowment Fund:
Learn more about mentoring and the BIG Gala:
