Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida needs a few good men.

The mentoring agency needs men over the age of 18 to serve as mentors to children throughout the five-county area it serves. Of the more than 200 children in Northwest Florida waiting to matched with a ‘big,” 70 percent are boys waiting or a big brother.

For as little as one hour a week and a one-year commitment, you can add joy to the life of a child and contribute greatly to his or her potential. Together, mentors and kids do simple, everyday activities like going to sporting events, playing games, going to parks or watching movies.

Research shows that having the positive influence of a Big Brother makes a real difference in the life of a boy. Little Brothers experience improvements in academic performance, behavior and relationships at home and elsewhere, according to independent studies.

For more information, call Patricia Kittle at (850) 433-KIDS (5437) or via email at [email protected].

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has served the area for 25 years. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida served 581 children in 2013.

Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO Paula Shell was a guest on “Progress+Promise” in May to talk about the program’s impact. Watch her interview here.