Taylor Faught of Siloam Springs knew that the match was meant to be when he became mentor to a boy he used to play with before he moved from the neighborhood.
Faught has been a board member for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas for more than six months. The board meets once a month to provide direction to executive director Sarah Heimer and make sure the organization is performing at its best.
A new program established by Big Brothers, Big Sisters was Lemonade Day on May 2. It allowed children throughout Northwest Arkansas to develop a business plan, build a lemonade stand, create a recipe and sell their product at a location of their choosing.
More than 10 stands were set up in Siloam Springs, and a stand at the La-Z-Boy ball fields received the top honor, the Sam Walton “Go For It” award.
Harrison Harp’s stand was voted superior in all areas. “Out of 515 kids, he hit it out of the ballpark,” Heimer said. “His marketing and branding was awesome.”
“Harrison’s Fuel Up Station” had a racing theme, and he named his lemonade flavors using that theme.
Throughout Northwest Arkansas, the average child made $286. The top stand pulled in more than $800. “They made a killing,” Heimer said.
The children decided how to spend the money. Some chose to donate it to organizations such as New Life Ranch, Boys and Girls Club and Manna Center.
“We really challenged them to exercise their giving,” Heimer said.
Children were also encouraged to open savings accounts.
They started work on their business plan about a month before the day of the sale. Each child had a business investor. “Main Street Siloam Springs was a huge proponent for Lemonade Day,” Heimer said.
In 2007, Prepared 4 Life started Lemonade Day in Houston, Texas. The program has grown into an international event that offers a tangible way to teach money management.
Heimer brought it to Northwest Arkansas after participating in it when she worked for the Boys and Girls Club in Bloomington, Ind.
The event is expected to take place again next year.
— Jeff Della Rosa
"It's a great organization to give back to the community and be a really good role model for somebody," Faught said. "I can't think of a better way to help a kid than to be a positive role model."
Before becoming mentor, he used to play with Stuart, a boy he lived near in north Siloam Springs. Reluctantly, Faught and his family moved away.
When he decided to be mentor again, he didn't realize Stuart was waiting to be matched. He got a call about a boy who would make a good match, and it sounded like the boy was Stuart.
Faught asked if the boy lived in the same neighborhood where he used to live. He was told yes, and sure enough, it was him. Faught said it was something divine to be reunited with Stuart again but this time as a mentor.
"Stuart is a great kid, comes from a great home, has a great mom," he said. "He's a fun kid that loves playing sports." He's been great at soccer.
When he comes over, he's given Faught's older daughter a big hug. "I honestly couldn't think of any better kid."
Mentors and children who are part of the organization have special names. A mentor is a "big" and the child a "'little."
A little often has come from a single-parent home, 20 percent might have an incarcerated parent and 80 percent live below the poverty line. "I come from a single-parent home," Faught said.
When he was in college, Faught served as a big to a 12-year-old boy for two years. President George W. Bush had inspired him to serve when Bush asked Americans to devote more time to community service.
Faught was big brother of the year before graduation. "I love the organization," he said.
Now, he's returned to being a big again. This time his whole family has been a part of the fun.
Recently, Faught hosted a crawfish boil at his home to raise awareness and money for the organization. More than 70 people attended the event, and it brought in more than $5,000. This will be enough money to match four children to a mentor.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters has operated 100 percent on donations, Heimer said. It costs about $1,000 per match.
The organization had a Siloam Springs office until 2012 when federal funding was cut. While the office here closed, "we continue to serve people in Siloam Springs," Heimer said.
Organization staff have worked with the high school and have provided site-based and community mentoring.
In 2014, about 10 Siloam Springs families were part of the organization that serves children ages 6 to 14 years old. A total of 234 Northwest Arkansas families are participating.
Currently, five children here have been waiting to be matched to a mentor. Children are referred to Big Brothers, Big Sisters by parents, schools, counselors or other community organizations such as Boys and Girls Club.
Those interested in being a mentor can apply online at www.bbbsnwa.org.
Applicants go through a 2 1/2-hour interview, background check and volunteer training.
Then, staff will look for a child match. Staff will match based on interests, likeness and race. For example, matching a child who loves video games to someone who loves sports probably wouldn't be a good match.
A match can be made in as a little as two weeks, but the process usually takes four to six weeks. After a match is made, support managers will talk to the child, the parents and set goals for the child. A big will meet with the little twice monthly and for about eight hours total, Heimer said.
Children in the program have performed better academically, improved their behavior and achieved success, she said.
"They can do things differently and have a better life," Faught said.
Faught said being a mentor provides so much more for a child than just a hand out. He's been a positive influence in a boy's life. "Some of these kids have not seen a different way to live," he said.
While he's been a positive role model, Faught also has been changed by the experience.
"It's made me be a better dad," he said. He has set aside two to three hours every other Sunday to simply have fun. Before, he might've spent time with his family by doing chores such as chopping wood. Now, he and his family might go fish for crawdads before enjoying a meal together.
"They end up changing you," he said. "My kids get to have another big brother."
Faught and his wife, Julia, have two sons and two daughters.
He encouraged other Siloam Springs families to become a mentor family. "It only takes a few hours every other week," he said.
"I hope Stuart's our little brother for years to come."
General News on 06/24/2015