Bill Van Pelt of Frankfort has been matched with 10-year-old Kevin Rand, of Joliet, for 18 months through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. Kevin's mom says Van Pelt has made a big impact on her son.

Gift that keeps giving: Role model

A few years ago, Bill Van Pelt, of Frankfort, wanted to "do something charitable," as he put it, but didn't know what exactly, so he typed in the word "volunteer" on an Internet search.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties popped up.

Two lives have been changed forever because of that small moment, affecting others around them as well.

Bill has been matched with 10-year-old Kevin Rand, of Joliet, for 18 months and he's made a deep impact.

Kevin, asked who he would call if he could only call three people, answered, "my mother, my sister and Bill."

"Unless I could call God," added Kevin, a fifth-grader at St. Paul the Apostle who admits his 5-year-old sister drives him crazy sometimes.

Kevin's single mom, Tanya, couldn't be more pleased that Kevin places such a high value on his friendship with Bill, even edging out his grandparents, Val and Bobbie Rand of Joliet, who also play a key part in Kevin's life because of her job demands.

"I'm not athletic and I can't connect with Kevin on that level," says his mom. "And Bill is able to give him undivided attention, where with me, a working mom, it might be 'I'll be with you in five minutes, honey' ... and he is so generous, so disciplined in the relationship. Bill goes above and beyond what Big Brothers asks of him."

Kevin sees Bill as "someone to play with" and "a friend," adding "I don't have my dad." But it is obvious Kevin doesn't just value their time together, he also "gets" that Bill is a role model.

"Bill is never impatient. My friends yell at me; he never does," Kevin confided.

That kind of positive influence is multiplied far beyond the few hours each week the two spend together eating ice cream, watching movies, playing chess, riding bikes or just hanging out.

In fact, a landmark study about 10 years ago shows BBBS mentors have a long-lasting, positive effect on children's confidence, grades and social skills.

"This is a powerful program," said CEO Lisa Morel Las. "And that's why we are so careful in matching an adult to a child. There are rigorous standards and training so the matches don't just suit each child's need, but are harmonious and built to last. That is why so much care is taken in screening and orienting volunteers, and then in matching them with children.