Port Chester’s Gregory Middleton Recognized this Volunteer Month by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westchester & Putnam
-New Rochelle Assistant Principal reinforces motto “It Takes Little to Be Big”
Port Chester, NY (April 14, 2025) April is National Volunteer Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westchester & Putnam (BBBSWP) continues to highlight the inspiring stories of its volunteers, namely Bigs (mentors), with the Big Deal initiative launched in January 2025. This month, the organization is recognizing Port Chester resident, Gregory Middleton. He has been a Big to his Little A.N. for three years and is an Assistant Principal in the City School District of New Rochelle.
Middleton said that he was inspired to become a Big as he saw the need for mentors, especially men, in and from communities of color. “The experience has been a confirmation of something I’ve long known professionally, and that is when you’re working with young people, you can’t necessarily look for or expect immediate growth or change. If you do, you may be setting yourself up for a great deal of disappointment. You must be ok with knowing that whatever impact you may make may happen long after that young person has left your life. When they become adults, they will look back and remember, like the rest of us do, not so much who bought them stuff, but who made them feel like they mattered.”
Middleton said that he and A.N. enjoy time together, and trampoline parks are a favorite since A.N. is very active. He said that he exposes A.N. to activities and places that he may never have been exposed to before – American Museum of Natural History, the Statue of Liberty, and the Central Park Zoo, the Barclays Center for a Brooklyn Nets game – a first for both.
“Our motto is, ‘It takes little to be Big,’ and people who may be thinking about mentoring may have it in their mind that it’s a huge time commitment. I would say to them that consistency is more important than the amount of time,” said Middleton. “If you spend time with your mentee one Saturday each month and maybe check in by text, call, etc., in between, that is ok. Just be sure that you’ll be there when you say you will. That’s where the consistency comes in. Most of these young people have suffered enough disappointments in their lives. When you say you’re going to show up, make sure you show up.”
“The Big Deal initiative celebrates mentoring by spotlighting a Big from Westchester or Putnam County monthly, allowing them to share their experiences to inspire others to become mentors. This month is especially important as people all over the world recognize the power of volunteerism and how it can change lives,” said Ann Ellsworth, CEO of BBBSWP.
The 2024 Economic Impact Report from Big Brothers Big Sisters highlights why mentorship matters:
Evidence-Based Impact:
– Mentored youth are 10% more likely to attend college.
– Alumni Littles are less reliant on social services and have stronger social connections.
– Former Littles earn $56,000 more in lifetime earnings than non-mentored peers.
Empowering Communities: Mentorship builds resilience, helping young people overcome adversity and fostering a more inclusive society.
A Simple, Profound Solution: Connecting caring adults with youth creates transformative relationships that strengthen communities.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westchester & Putnam is dedicated to creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the potential in children and change lives. Through various programs designed to meet the needs of the community, the organization aims to build brighter futures for children and empower them to achieve success.
