Being a Big Brother: Lubbock businessman reflects on lessons, fun of volunteering as mentor
It's been more than two decades since Joel Mowery took a friend's advice to become a Big Brother.
He was 32, had no children of his own at the time and wasn't sure what he'd be able to offer a child, but Mowery felt called to use some of his free time to serve as a mentor for Lubbock's Big Brothers Big Sisters non-profit organization.
Before he knew it, he was matched with his "Little" - a 9-year-old boy named Michael, who was one of several siblings being raised by a single mother.
"I didn't know how well I'd be able to connect with him - I was a good bit older than a 'big brother' to him," Mowery recalled. "But we ended up hitting it off and have what's been a lasting connection to this day, more than 20 years later."
Mowery, a co-owner of SERVPRO of Southwest Lubbock, has since expanded his work for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock, serving as an advocate and sponsor of the non-profit organization that matches children in need with safe mentors.
Mowery's company has been a longtime sponsor of the annual Golf for Kids’ Sake Tournament benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock. The event, which is celebrating its 19th year, kicks off Friday with a concert, dinner and auction at SERVPRO and continues with the golf tournament Friday, May 3, at LakeRidge Country Club. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal is serving as a media sponsor for this year's event.
Ahead of the organization's biggest annual fundraiser, Mowery talked about the lessons, fun and other experiences from his time as a Big Brother. Here's some of what Mowery shared in an interview with the Avalanche-Journal. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did you become a Big Brother volunteer?
Mowery: "It was many years ago - I don't remember the exact year - when I met my Little Brother. My business partner, who I'm partners with today, was on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and said, 'I think you'd be a good Big Brother.' I didn't know how to do that. I didn't have any kids at the time. But I went down, went through the process of all the background checks and the proper insurance and all of those things, and then I got my Little Brother and his name was Michael."
How was your experience as a Big Brother?
Mowery: "I was just trying to help him out and be like a big brother. I have two brothers myself, so I just tried to be a brother to him. Michael probably taught me as much as I taught him ... we would just do stuff. He liked sports, which is good for me, because I do, too. So we would go to Texas Tech basketball and baseball and football games. It started out that way, and we just became really close. Sometimes I'd pick him up and take him out to watch a movie or go out to a restaurant. I would try to help him, check on how he was doing in school, get on to him if he wasn't getting good grades."
What did you learn from your time as a Big Brother?
Mowery: "I didn't have children yet, so me helping him go through junior high and then high school, and just hanging out with him, being around that age of a person, I think really helped me when I became a parent. It helped me because I saw some of his struggles and, me being kind of older, I kind of forgot about those struggles as a young person. And so, even though my dad died when I was young, I had two parents and grandparents on both sides of the family. I had that support to me. And so, to see him with a single mom with four sisters and a brother, and trying to survive that family and get them through, it kind of helped me when I had children to be a mentor to them and show them the rights and wrongs and that sort of thing. He's a good young man and I'm very, very proud of him."
How has your relationship evolved with Michael over the years?
Mowery: "Michael and I were matched from when he was 9 until he was 16. And at 16, the match stopped. And so we just looked at each other and said, 'So, what does that mean?' And we said, 'Well, we're not matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters anymore, but we should stay close.' And with Facebook and all that, we were able to stay in touch with each other. In fact, I drove out to Phoenix, where he lives now, back in November and we just hung out and played golf and had a good time ... we still have that relationship. Even his family will come out in the summer and stay for a week. It's been a very good thing for me and my family and hopefully for him and his family, also."
What's a lesson you'd like to share from your experience volunteering?
"I think everybody needs mentors. When my dad died, I was 18, and I noticed that I really wanted to be around older men. I wanted to be around good men who would be a good example. And there were great bosses I worked for that were mentors to me and who took me under their wing. So I just think, no matter how old you are, everyone needs good mentors and I think part of what Big Brothers Big Sisters does is bring mentorship."
Golf For Kids' Sake tournament
The 19th Annual Golf for Kids’ Sake Kickoff Concert and Tournament benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock kicked off with a concert Friday before Lubbockites hit the links on May 3.
The tournament will be held at LakeRidge Country Club, 8802 Vicksburg Ave., with morning and afternoon flights. Organizers say 100% of the proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock. The goal for this year’s event is to raise $100,000 with all money staying in Lubbock. LakeRidge Country Club continues to be one of the biggest supporters for this yearly event. The tournament willhave two flights at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with registration starting at 7 a.m. and noon. Breakfast will be provided byAll American Eatery and lunch will be provided by J&M barbecue. To date, returning sponsors include Commander’s Palace, Bam’s Complete A/V, South Plains Electric Coop, Andrus Brothers Roofing, City Bank, First Capital Bank, Lubbock National Bank, Lone Star State Bank, Prosperity Bank, King Consultants, United Supermarkets, South Plains Lions Club, and Tyler Technologies. Bledsoe Insurance is providing a hole-in-one prize. Johnson Tax is providing prize money for the golf tournament.As the largest fundraiser year after year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock, organizers said the concert and tournament are vital to their mission of providing youth with strong, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring services in Lubbock and the South Plains area.To date, this annual event has raised over $600,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock since 2006. Sponsorships and golf teams are still available. For more information or questions, email marketing@servproofswlubbock.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock man reflects on lessons mentoring for Big Brothers Big Sisters
