Spotlighting Jeffrey
A father, coach and mentor, Jeffrey has been a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters for two years.
For Jeffrey, being a mentor allows him to give back the support he needed growing up. “Mentoring means being the kind of positive, consistent support I wish I had growing up—someone who listens, encourages, and helps a young person recognize their own strengths and potential,” he says. “As a father and someone who has seen how powerful consistent encouragement and understanding can be for children, I wanted to become the kind of supportive presence I once needed and help young people feel valued, included and confident in their potential.”
Jeffrey shows up as a highly energetic and caring mentor. As a Game On volunteer, “Jeffrey has brought so much joy and leadership to each program he is part of,” says Case Manager, Kyle.
Game On is a group mentoring program for elementary school students who identify as male. Through activities and discussion, the program gives young people a space to build confidence, discover healthy habits and learn life skills.
The group program meets once a week. “Jeffrey brings a great energy level,” Kyle says, “he makes the effort to ensure all boys are enjoying the program, its games and that everyone is welcome and included.”
“To me, it’s about using my own experiences as a father, coach and mentor to create a safe space where kids feel understood, included and confident enough to become the best version of themselves,” Jeffrey says.
His favourite memory as a volunteer mentor: observing the growth in confidence of one of his mentees overtime.
Being a volunteer mentor has positively impacted Jeffrey’s life – he gets a lot out of what he gives. “Seeing the difference that consistency, encouragement and simply showing up can make in a young person’s life has made me a passionate advocate for the organization and its ability to genuinely change lives—including my own,” Jeffrey says. ” I would encourage someone to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters because the impact goes both ways—you have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a young person’s life while also growing and learning from the relationship yourself.”
At Big Brothers Big Sisters 2026 Volunteer & Donor Appreciation event, Jeffrey received the Volunteer of the Year Award for Game On for his outstanding contributions. Thank you, Jeffrey, for your passion, commitment and shining so brightly as a volunteer mentor.
