At 66. John Armentrout is busier than many men half his age.

“I work 40 to 45 hours a week in my own business,” Armentrout, who owns Muffler Masters on Ninth Avenue, said.  “I’m in the Rotary. I feed the homeless at Loaves and Fishes. I’m in Pensacola Leaders. I’m the king of the Krewe of Seville, and I am an usher at my church. Everyday there is something going on for me.”

Yet, for the last five years, Amentrout has found time to be a Big Brother for Joe, the 15 year-old son of a single mom.

“I just allot that three hours every week for Joe,” Armentrout said. “He looks forward to it, and so do I.”

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Can you help?

In order to volunteer as a mentor at Big Brothers/Big Sisters, applicants must be 17, commit to being a BIG for at least one year, provide references, participate in an in-person interview and submit to a background screening.

 For details, visit www.DoALotForALittle.org or call (850) 433-KIDS (5437).

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Armentrout is a shining example of what Big Brothers/Big Sisters needs more of — men who are willing to be mentors. That's the goal of a campaign the organization started on April 17, "100 Men in 100 Days."

“Hundreds of boys are enrolled in our program every year. Many end up waiting a year or longer to be paired with a Big Brother,” Paula Shell, chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, said in a news release. “Studies have shown that the lack of a male figure in a boy’s life increases the likelihood he will perform poorly in school or get involved in crime.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ problem lies in a lack of adult male volunteers.

"Only 37 percent of all inquiries (to become mentors) come from men," said Natalie Chism, director of marketing and development for the local Big Brothers/Big Sisters. "Men generally feel like they don’t have time between their careers and/or families.

"What we want to let men know is you can involve a little brother in whatever you are already doing. It’s also OK to include them in your family activities. You can tag team with someone by being a couples match — your spouse or a friend. The minimum requirement is getting together with your little brother two times a month. That’s it. "

The “100 Men in 100 Days” campaign is being funded with a $102,500 grant from IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, Chism said. The money is being used for a marketing efforts including print, television, radio, billboards, social media and community events.

Armentrout called the concerns that some men may have about the time required to be a Big Brother “a myth.” He has questions he would ask men thinking about becoming Big Brothers.

“Do you go to church? How much time do you spend at church? Do you go golfing? How often do you do that? They don’t have any problem with time for church or time for golfing,” he said. “They don’t seem to think that’s any big deal. Well, I give three hours a week to my little.”

Almost all of the activities that Armentrout and Joe do together take place on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., he said.

“We go and do different things,” he said. “We do stuff that I haven’t done since I was his age, like go-carting, skating and body-surfing in the Gulf.”

While Armentrout doesn’t help Joe directly with his school work, he does keep tabs through his homeroom teacher, who happens to be a friend. He also rewards Joe with a little cash when he gets a good report card, and he tries to expose him to people who will be a positive influence.

“He’s around people who are good people. He’s around very professional, encouraging people,” Aremtrout said. “That’s what helps him, being around people who have done well in life and are encouraging him to do the same. You don’t know the power of that to a kid who’s never been around that kind of stuff.”

Armentrout became a Big Brother in 2010 after he heard a speaker make the pitch at his Rotary Club. He also had heard a story on the national news that inspired him.

“There was this guy who was 66 years old when he became a Big Brother,” he said. “That guy stayed in touch with that kid. They showed him in a wheelchair at 95 years old. He had been friends with him all that time. He was best man at his wedding.

“What guy can’t give up three hours a week for a kid to change his whole life? If people start thinking about it that way, I think they would change their tune.”