Dave Wolyn and Thomas McGee have been friends for a long time – 10 solid years. Thomas was a small boy when they met. He’s in his last year of high school now.
A decade long friendship is an extraordinary achievement between a big brother and little brother brought together by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph. It has happened before, but it is rare, said Mike Treadgold, the organization’s manager, development and communications.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is celebrating these two buddies in April, during National Volunteer Month.
Wolyn is a professor of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph and a longstanding Big Brother. McGee lives with his mom, and was without a strong male role model in his life 10 years ago. David entered the picture in 2007. The bros have been getting together every week since, and getting along for a long time.
“It’s a pretty special match for us, just because of the length of time that these two guys have been together,” Treadgold said in an interview, adding that the longevity of the match is a testament to the commitment of both guys.
A big brother, he said, makes a two- to four-hour weekly commitment for at least 18 months. Such a pledge is necessary to ensure stability in the little brother’s life. Stability is what they need most of all.
Most matches, Treadgold added, exceed the 18-month period. An average of two to three volunteers each year are recognized for 10 years of service, most involving multiple matches.
“The Dave and Thomas story of being together for 10 years is certainly one of our real highlight stories,” he said.
The organization provided a then-and-now photograph of the two standing side by side. The image on the left shows Thomas standing next to big brother Dave 10 years ago. The top of his head is at about chest height. In the image on the right, Thomas is a young man, standing nearly as tall as Dave, who is tall guy. Dave hasn’t changed much in the photographs, but Thomas sure has.
The two have bonded a lot over the years through food. They cook and bake together, and share the culinary outcome
"Ten years feels great, time goes by quickly," Wolyn said in an email exchange. "Starting as a big brother, I did not know what to expect. Early in the match, I realized we were a good fit and there would be a long term friendship. It is quite gratifying that Thomas, busy with school, a job and girlfriend, is still getting together with me every week. It speaks to the strength of our friendship."
He added that he and Thomas "are a significant component of each other’s life and have developed a bond that will last our lifetimes."
“They found their match and their comfort area in the kitchen,” Treadgold said. ‘It’s something that is very enjoyable for the two of them.”
The largest youth mentoring charity in Guelph, Big Brothers Big Sisters provides about 650 at-risk youth with a role model, mentor and friend. It was established in 1967, and serves Guelph, Aberfoyle, Rockwood, Morriston and Puslinch. Visit www.bbbsg.ca to learn more about its program.
In a press release, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph executive director Heather Fowler said it has been amazing to watch Dave and Thomas grow together over the past 10 years.
“They have given so much to one another and they represent everything that our charity hopes to achieve when we match local youth with adult volunteer mentors,” she stated. “We wish them many more years of friendship and success.”
The matches are beneficial relationships for both the big and little brother/sister. The big person gets to share their time, experience, knowledge and friendship with a young person, while the little person gets a role model - a stable source of leadership and mentorship.
“It allows both to explore certain activities and hobbies that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise done on the their own,” Treadgold added. “They learn about these things together.”
Wolyn said being a Big Brother is a very rewarding experience. The slogan ‘Become a Big Brother and learn to be a kid again’ is very true, he added.
"One has an extreme sense of satisfaction knowing he has made a significant difference in someone’s life."
