Big Buddy News
BIG BUDDY BIG AUCTION set to better boys lives once again
G.J. Gardner Homes is about to make another huge difference to South Auckland boys without a father in their lives! On December 5, the G.J. Gardner Homes Papakura Franchise will auction off a spacious new 4-bedroom brick property in the new, family-focused community of Waiata Shores. All profits will go to Big Buddy. This house […]
Wellington 30-somethings make great Big Buddies!
Anyone who saw some of our youngest Auckland Big Buddies on TV3’s The Project in September will know that younger men are stepping up to make a big difference in the lives of boys who don’t have a dad around. These men are at the lower end of the Millennial generation bracket, but we talked […]
Family adversity healed through having a Big Buddy
Sometimes it pays to simply tell a story as it is. Early this year we received this heartfelt account of Sarah Tizard and son Koria’s journey to finding Big Buddy Wes. Read more about how it has transformed their lives. ‘Koria and Wesley were matched just over a year ago. It has been the best […]
The journey to being a Big Buddy
One of our well known mentors shares the gradual journey from new dad to Big Buddy. Auckland’s Eugene Lowrie has been a committed role model for two different boys in the last three years. First, he was Big Buddy to young Sam, then when Sam and his mother moved down to the Waikato, Eugene took […]
Growing confidence through the spirit of adventure
Through kind sponsorship, Big Buddies occasionally get to develop their own confidence on an Outward Bound course, at a fraction of the cost most people would pay. Recently, Big Buddies Eugene Lowrie and Terry Dawson were lucky enough to take up this offer in The Marlborough Sounds. Terry’s letter of thanks, below, shows us the […]
Exploring, growing, relating
Here’s a great reminder of what Big Buddies do best, from the 2016 archives: A year is a long time in a 13-year-old boy’s life and a lot can happen. Especially if you are LB Mikaere and go on all sorts of adventures around Wellington with BB Tony. Here’s a report from the mentoring field […]
Gabriel and Greg side by side since 2010
Having a Big Buddy is knowing there is always someone in your corner. LB, Gabriel (11) and his BB, Greg have been matched since 2010 and have been quite the pair since. Losing his father at a very young age and having two adult siblings who live abroad, Gabriel’s mother, Gay thought it very important […]
Big Buddy; straight from the horse’s mouth
FROM THE 2015 ARCHIVES We all remember doing speeches in school, and we all know the best kinds of speeches are the ones about the things we like the most. So, LB Jaden chose to do his speech on his BB, Graeme, and the Big Buddy programme. These are his words: “Hi, today I’m talking […]
ON THE WEEKEND: DJ, 17, and Big Buddy Phil
I always look forward to my visits & outings with Phil. He is more like the big brother I’ve never had and I feel so relaxed with him – we go with the flow about what we do nearly every week. Lately we’ve been doing driving lessons at the Air Force base out north-west Auckland. We […]
Today, you can help to change a boy’s life forever.
By donating, you will help a boy whose dad is not around to find a man he can trust and look up to, a Big Buddy.
