GREEN BAY, Wis. — The NFL and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wisconsin are teaming up to make a difference in the lives of area youth.

With millions of people following the NFL Draft, the NFL is spotlighting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wisconsin (BBBS) through its campaign “Inspire Change.”

BBBS Director of Philanthropy Emily Burgess said this initiative is a great way to draft more mentors.

“We hope to recruit, especially the male population, to become bigs in our program, and centering around football, because who doesn’t love some good football and the camaraderie of sports?” Burgess said.

What You Need To Know

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters started in 1904 and continues to help children realize their potential and build their futures

  • The Wisconsin Chapter of Big Brothers Big Sister is looking to draft 350 mentors or bigs

  • Nationwide, the Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations aims to recruit 10,000 bigs or mentors; they've recruited over 11,000

  • Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy is the spokesperson for this campaign and used to be a Big Brother while enrolled in college at Colgate

Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy is the spokesperson for this campaign. 

Burgess said Murphy has a special connection to this organization.

“Mark used to be a big brother in college, so he’s been a great supporter of our mission,” Burgess said. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters hopes to positively change the lives of kids facing adversity. At a local level in Northeast Wisconsin, the organization has reached its goal of 100 mentors.

Statewide, the organization has reached half its goal of 700 recruits, so more mentors or bigs are needed.

“A big is essentially a mentor for a little. So there’s a big and a little, and really you’re coaching them and mentoring them throughout when they’re little, all the way up until 18-19, or that age, and the big and the little do all sorts of activities throughout Green Bay,” mentor Jack Schwartz said.

Schwartz is matched with a 9-year-old little. His mentee will have the ultimate draft experience.

“He’s actually going to go get up to the stage at the kickoff of the draft, so he’ll be coming in with Packers players and the commissioner of the NFL. So I’m super excited for him to experience that, and I’ll watch him do that,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said the draft is a great opportunity to recruit more mentors, and he’s thankful to impact a child’s life.

“It’s fulfilling for me, but also, obviously the little, right? So I just love the fact that we’re gonna build a relationship over years, not just a couple of days, weeks or months,” Burgess said.

Burgess said it’s great to have the organization front and center during the NFL Draft and hopes to meet its biggest goal.

“We want to take kids off of our waitlist, to make sure that every kid has the opportunity to have a big and have that adult support system in their life,” Burgess said.

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