Brad Miller, Big Brother
By: Daniel Woodruff
Updated: September 9, 2009
FOX Fort Wayne brought you the story of more than 400 local children waiting to be matched up with a "big brother" or "big sister". The Big Brothers Big Sister program is facing a shortage of volunteers.
On Wednesday a handful of those kids got a big brother for just a few minutes. And he's a celebrity.
Chicago Bulls center Brad Miller, originally from Kendallville, got matched with a "big brother" when he was young. Miller says his big brother had a big impact.
Miller showed up early Wednesday evening to the charity's annual auction to meet with twenty kids. They're waiting to be paired up with a big brother or sister. But there aren't enough volunteers. For just a few minutes, Miller filled that role. He gave each kid an autographed hat, took pictures, and chatted.
Guests arrived to bid on a host of items like a Rolling Stones guitar or a Muhammad Ali boxing glove.
Organizers hope the auction will raise $100,000 to help match up children with a big brother or sister. They say it can cost between $700 and $900 a year to support a match.
For information on volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, contact Community Development Coordinator Rosalyn Wynne at 260-399-3609.
