“I thank God for giving me the opportunity to meet someone like Joe. I am truly blessed to have him in my life.”

Those are the words of Little Brother Aldo, who today is a happy, confident college student pursuing his dreams — and his future. But it wasn’t that long ago that Aldo’s future didn’t seem so assured. He had entered a “rough spot” in his life and he was feeling down on himself.

That’s when Big Brother Joe stepped in. Joe encouraged Aldo to participate in the activities he enjoyed most: music, baseball, after-school programs and community service. The more Joe encouraged him, the better Aldo felt about himself.

And the better he did in school, too. Joe encouraged Aldo to believe in himself and strive for excellence. And the hard work paid off! Aldo went from nearly having to repeat his freshman year of high school, to achieving good grades and being accepted at a prestigious university.

Thinking about volunteering? As Aldo will be the first to tell you, the time you spend mentoring a young person can pay off over a lifetime. “My Big Brother has been there for me when I needed him most. Now we hang out whenever we can. Not as Big and Little … but as lifelong friends.”