BBBSNEW Blog

Each month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Wisconsin shines a light on the relationships that we are helping build within our community. This month we would like to acknowledge our featured Match of the Month. Please help us congratulate Scott Clark (31) of Green Bay and his Little Brother Zack (15) of De Pere.

Where did you hear about Big Brothers Big Sisters?

Scott: I knew about it because my mom was a Big when I was young.

Why did you want to become involved?

S: When my Mom was a Big, I remember her Little (Ursula, my brother and I called her Ursi), coming to our house and playing with us and was kind of a big sister to me. I saw the positive impact my Mom made in Ursula’s life.  For example, my mom was really into arts and crafts. Ursula ended up starting her own business making purses. It was so inspirational to me that doing something so simple can impact a child’s life when they become an adult.

Why did you want to have a Big Brother or Big Sister?

Zack: Originally so I could have someone to hang out with during the summer then it turned into much more than that and I am thankful for that.

What do you do when you spend time together?

S: We love B-Dubs (Buffalo Wild Wings)! We play the countdown trivia every time. It’s a great back up plan if we don’t have any specific ideas. We’ve gone on bike rides and to the park. We’ve been to every museum in Green Bay and Oshkosh (some more than once), and we like going to different sporting events. Our favorite is the Gamblers Hockey team. Zack has a huge interest in cars, so if we can find any events related to cars we try to go. Our birthdays are two weeks apart from each other, so we have a tradition (three years running) of going to Badger Sports Park. We love riding go karts and playing laser tag.

Is there something in particular that stands out as a memorable time with your little?

S: We once got indoor club tickets to a Packers preseason game (through BBBS). It was Zack’s first Packers game and it was an amazing experience! We found out you could order food if you downloaded an app on your phone and kept ordering nachos, cracker jacks, and beef sticks.

What is your favorite memory with your Big?

Z: Every year we go to Badgers Sports Park. We do go-karts (which I dominate in) and we do laser tag.

Is there something in the future that you would like to do together or that you look forward to experiencing together?

S: I haven’t been to a car show with Zack yet, so that’s on the list. I know he’s excited for his driver’s license. Maybe I’ll let him pick me up after five years of giving him rides (haha!). There is a virtual reality arcade in Green Bay, and that’s on our list of things to check out.

Is There something you would like to do together in the future, and why?

Z: I would like to go to a car show with him, so I could show/teach him more about almost every car.

What have you enjoyed about being a big?

S: Zack is an only child and has lived with his Mom most of his life. In ways, I feel like an actual brother to Zack. Also, that I’m acting as a positive influence in a young person’s life and I don’t need to do a lot to do that. All it takes is spending time together, listening and hanging out on a regular basis.

In what way has being matched with your Little affected you and your life?

S: Being matched with Zack has made me enjoy the simple things in life. I don’t need to do anything extravagant to have fun. Going out for a bike ride is simple to do, and for a kid it’s a big deal. It creates positive and fun memories.

What is something that you learned from your Big?

Z: To laugh more.

How has being matched with a Big made a difference for you?

Z: I’ve definitely grown socially, I was very shy at the beginning.

What would you say to others about Big Brothers Big Sisters and to others who are thinking about becoming a Big?

S: DO IT! It’s a life-changing experience and it’s only a one-year commitment. Trust me, you’ll want to do it for longer than that. It has been a great five years being matched with Zack.