Kansas City Man wins Big Award through Big Brothers Big Sisters

Kansas City, Mo. -- (March 10, 2010) Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City announced today, that John Gordon, a Kansas City man, has been selected as the 2010 Missouri Big Brother of the Year.  An award that Kansas City hasn’t received in over eight years.
 
This award recognizes extraordinary mentors in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.   All BBBS agencies nominate a Big Brother or Big Sister that has gone above and beyond and made a noticeable difference in a child’s life.  
 
John has been a Big Brother to Angel for just over one year.  Angel’s father is incarcerated and his brother was shot and killed in August, 2009.  John has helped Angel and his family through this terrible tragedy. Angel’s mother, Rosalinda Rodriguez, credits John for helping her family during this time, “To me, Johnny is like family. He has shown us good things and given hope to our entire family,” said Rosalinda. “He loves without receiving anything in return.  I give thanks to God and to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for bringing Johnny into the lives of my son and our whole family. I don’t have enough words to express how thankful I am.”
 
“Being a Big Brother to Angel has been a life changing experience,” said John Gordon, Jr, Missouri Big Brother of the year.  “I feel like I have gained not only a little brother but a nephew, cousin, son and friend.  I want him to be at my wedding and I expect to be front row at his High School graduation.”

John will be given an award on Sunday, March 21 at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Match Appreciation Banquet at the Ritz Charles. He will be Missouri’s nominee for the National Big Brother of the Year to be announced in April, 2010 by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

To read more about John and Angel’s relationship, visit www.bbbskc.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters helps vulnerable children beat the odds. The organization depends on donations to help recruit volunteers and reach more children. Funding is used to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety; and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters is proven to improve children’s odds for succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and breaking negative

cycles. Learn how you can change how children grow up in America by going to BigBrothersBigSisterskc.org.

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