Meet Annie and Maria

"I met Maria in February of this year. Getting to know her has been a really great experience. At first I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous about wanting to do and say the right thing, and she was so quiet and shy. She didn’t really say anything. But so much has changed since.

 

We get along so well and she’s really opened up to me and my family. We like to do things that girlfriends do together. We go to the mall, take my dog to the dog park, go swimming and just hang out and chat.

 

Maria and I have so much in common, and I see a lot of myself in her. I would have loved to have been apart of Big Brothers Big Sisters when I was her age. Because of that, it means so much to me to be able to help teach Maria how beautiful, smart and capable she really is. She’s such a bright, strong girl with so much potential and BBBS has given me the gift of knowing what it means to influence a young girl positively. I’m looking forward to being friends with Maria for a long time to come. I know the focus is to bring a positive relationship into Maria’s life but being her big sister is also helping me grow as a person." - Annie Kopich

 

Maria, who just turned 10, loves school and is in the gifted program. She especially likes math class. When she’s not in school she likes to do arts and crafts, cook, and loves animals. She thinks it’s important that being a little is not about receiving gifts and going to expensive places but about spending time with and getting to know Annie. She enjoys her big sister because she has such a good time when they are together and she loves to have a good time!

Meet James and David

"I met James 2 years ago after completing the process to become a big brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward. When I met James, I knew he was special and had a real passion for life. As I began to spend time with James it was clear that he was lacking the relationship young boys need with older male role models.

Given this, I was all too happy to fulfill that role and give him the encouragement and attention he desperately needed and deserved.

As I spend time with James, he never ceases to amaze me with the things he says and does. He is such a caring and generous person with a magnetic personality, which is readily apparent as soon as you meet him. Having the opportunity to provide him with the guidance he needs to become a successful, well adjusted person is an honor to me.

As we spend more time together, I realize how impressionable he is and how much he values our friendship. This just reinforces my belief that young people desperately need the support and guidance of a role model to enrich their lives. I look forward to continuing my relationship with James as he grows into a man his family and friends can be proud of."  -David Leib

James, who is 9 years old, enjoys playing sports with David and has a passion for acting, already being featured in a couple of television commercials.  He especially loves bowling and is currently knocking down a 122 average.  He says he likes being able to call David on his cell phone and ask him questions and enjoys the time they spend together.