New community-wide campaign envisions fewer children waiting for mentors and more caring adults ready to be matched.

MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — What if, instead of children waiting for mentors, there were mentors ready and waiting to be matched with children?

That is the vision behind Flip the List, a new mentor recruitment and community awareness
campaign from Big Friend Little Friend of the Mitchell Area.

The campaign is designed around a simple goal: fewer kids waiting for mentors and more
caring adults ready to be matched.

Big Friend Little Friend matches children and teens, known as Little Friends, with committed
adult volunteers, known as Big Friends, who build trusted relationships and serve as positive
role models and reliable sources of support.

Through friendship and consistent time together, mentors can provide encouragement,
introduce children to new experiences, help build confidence and simply be another caring adult
in a young person’s corner.

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“I’ve seen firsthand what happens when a child has a caring adult who shows up, listens and
simply makes time for them. No child should have to wait months—or even a year—for that kind
of friendship. My hope with Flip the List is that people will stop and think, ‘Maybe I could do this.’
You don’t have to be a superhero or have a lot of extra time. You just need a willingness to
show up. Even one hour can help a child feel supported, valued and important—and make a
much bigger difference than you might imagine,” said Linda McEntee, Executive Director of
Big Friend Little Friend of the Mitchell Area.

Mentoring Doesn’t Require Perfection

One of the goals of Flip the List is to help community members understand that becoming a
mentor doesn’t require previous mentoring experience or having all the answers.

It requires a willingness to consistently show up.

Depending on the program, mentoring might mean playing a game, shooting hoops, going
fishing, working on a craft, attending a community event or simply having a conversation.

Big Friend Little Friend provides prospective mentors with screening and training, thoughtfully
considers each match and provides ongoing support throughout the mentoring relationship.
The organization offers different mentoring opportunities to fit different schedules.
Community-Based Big Friends typically commit to approximately one hour a week for one year,
with meetings often taking place during evenings or weekends. School-Based mentoring
provides another opportunity for adults to spend approximately one hour with a Little Friend
during the school day throughout the school year.

The Impact of Simply Showing Up

For Little Friends, seemingly ordinary moments can make an extraordinary difference.

Current and former Little Friends have shared stories about mentors who introduced them to
new experiences, helped them navigate difficult seasons, encouraged them academically,
celebrated important milestones and simply became trusted friends.

One Little Friend described her mentor as “one of the nicest people I have ever met,” sharing
that they enjoy crafts, parks, music and other activities together.

Other mentoring relationships have continued long after childhood—through high school and
college graduations, adulthood and even weddings.

These stories demonstrate what Big Friend Little Friend hopes the Mitchell community will
understand through Flip the List: mentoring isn’t necessarily about changing a child’s life through
one extraordinary moment. Often, the difference comes through ordinary moments of friendship,
encouragement and consistency over time.

It Takes a Community to Flip the List

Flip the List isn’t only an invitation for individuals to become mentors.

Big Friend Little Friend is also inviting businesses, churches, employers, civic organizations
and community groups throughout the Mitchell area to help identify and encourage potential
mentors.

Organizations can participate by sharing the campaign with employees or members, inviting Big
Friend Little Friend to give a presentation, personally encouraging individuals who would make
strong mentors and helping make the need for mentors more visible throughout the community.

Those who aren’t currently able to mentor can still make an impact by sharing the campaign or
personally, inviting someone they believe would make a great Big Friend.

One person learns more. One adult takes the next step. One thoughtful match is made.

One friendship begins.

That’s how Mitchell can Flip the List.

Community members interested in becoming a mentor—or simply learning more about what
mentoring involves—are encouraged to start with a conversation. There is no commitment
required to learn more.

Visit bigfriendlittlefriendmitchell.org to learn more about Big Friend Little Friend, explore
mentoring opportunities or connect with the organization.

About Big Friend Little Friend

Big Friend Little Friend Mentoring is a youth mentoring organization in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Children and teens (Littles) are matched with committed adult volunteers (Bigs) who develop
and maintain trusted relationships, serving as positive role models and sources of reliable
support.

Big Friends offer guidance, encouragement and friendship, helping their Little Friends build
self-esteem, improve social skills and make positive life choices. Big Friend Little Friend’s
mission is to provide Mitchell-area youth the opportunity to achieve a future filled with hope and
the capacity to succeed through a caring mentoring relationship.

Inspiring Hope. Changing Lives.

To learn more about Big Friend Little Friend, its mentoring programs or how to become a Big
Friend, visit bigfriendlittlefriendmitchell.org.