Big Brothers Big Sisters Looking to Grow Presence in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties

“It doesn’t take much time to make a difference in a child’s life”

By Rachel Pasche | March 14, 2026

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan (or “Bigs” for short) is a mentorship program based in Traverse City with branches that spread throughout the region in Grand Traverse, Antrim, Emmet, Charlevoix, and Kalkaska counties. The program is all about connection, pairing kids who could use an extra adult in their corner with volunteers who have a little time and a lot of heart.

“Our goal is simple but powerful: help kids realize their full potential,” says director Cecilia Chesney.

The program carefully matches young people (the “Littles”) with a caring adult mentor (“Bigs) who can show up for their Little as a positive role model, a cheerleader, and a friend.

“We know from decades of research that having another trusted adult, outside of family and teachers, can be life-changing for a child,” Chesney says. “Our Littles come from a wide range of backgrounds, but often they’re facing obstacles like family instability, financial hardship, or just the general messiness of growing up. Every kid deserves to feel seen and supported. Nobody makes it on their own, and when a child feels like someone is in their corner, it will change their life.”

Since getting its start in 1970, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated in the region for over 50 years and has served more than 16,000 kids.

Growing Up in Charlevoix & Petoskey

Charlevoix and Emmet counties represent a significant portion of the service area (nearly 30 percent of children served in northwestern Michigan live there), yet hundreds of kids in these two counties could still benefit from a mentor.

While there is a team and office based in Petoskey, most of the funding comes from Grand Traverse County, and the Petoskey branch faces challenges in community awareness and recruiting both volunteers and donors. The hope Chesney has is to see Charlevoix and Emmet counties become locally led, thriving, and self-sustaining parts of the program.

“We want to put local leadership at the heart of what we do in Charlevoix and Emmet counties,” she says. “That means building a board made up of people who live here, who’ll eventually bring on a local director to run our programs. To pull this off, we need community members who care enough to step up and help lead the way.”

The regional board currently serves Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, and Kalkaska Counties. In 2025, they served 520 children—more than any agency in the state. (For perspective, Ann Arbor/Detroit, the second-largest program, served around 300 kids despite having more staff and budget.)

“The reason we’re able to do so much is because our communities are full of people who genuinely care,” Chesney says.

“Still, we know we can do better,” she quickly adds. “Our goal is to serve at least 200 kids in Charlevoix and Emmet counties in 2026. Long-term, we think this area could reach 400 if we have real community support. We need residents of Charlevoix and Emmet Counties who know the community inside and out to help us raise funds, find volunteers, and build the relationships that make this program thrive. With that help, we can make sure these life-changing services are here for every child who needs them.”

We spoke with a few Bigs volunteers to hear their experiences with the program and learn what they love about it.

Emily Boss

Express: How long have you been volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters?
Boss: The first time I spent time with my Little was Feb. 4, 2017. I’ve been her Big since then. I most enjoy the longevity we now—and will always—have. To have been able to form a relationship when we were both young (in our own ways), and to be nearly a decade into our match means that we’ve been able to grow up together, and that’s such an immense privilege that I do not take for granted.

Express: Why did you start volunteering?
Boss: When I first began, my professional role intersected with area nonprofits. I was raised by very service-minded parents and enjoyed nonprofit work, so I understood and respected the impact volunteers can have. I was ready to dive a little deeper into a role as an active, consistent volunteer somewhere, and I am forever grateful I went this route. 

Express: What are your biggest takeaways from volunteering?
Boss: I feel like I went into the match thinking that it was a great way to personally have an impact on someone in my community, but the experience has taught me that it’s not at all just a “give.” It’s a two-way street, and one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of. I’m often told by folks when I share that I’m a Big that, “Oh, that’s so good of you to do, how cool!’ and I don’t disagree, it is cool. But it’s [also] one of the most rewarding, mutually beneficial, and treasured relationships in my life, and it takes trust, friendship, and vulnerability on my Little’s part to make it as cool as it is. Showing up consistently has the power to change not only the recipient of the volunteered time, but the giver just as much.

Express: What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve experienced?
Boss: A couple of years back, we took a day-trip to Grand Rapids to celebrate her 13th birthday, and that was a blast. It was kind of like a “Yes day” because why not? I know that one is a chart-topper for both of us. She was asked to speak at a fundraiser for Bigs a couple of years ago to give a statement on the impact our match has had on her. She had sent me a fake (unbeknownst to me) draft, so I went in expecting something, and was instead blown away and humbled by the real words she had put together.

Jill Jelinek

Express: How long have you been volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters?
Jelinek: I have been matched with my Little Sister for over nine years. We started when she was in kindergarten and now she’s a freshman at Central High School. My favorite part of volunteering is being able to offer encouragement and seeing how my Little has gained confidence in herself. We like hanging out and chatting about anything on her mind. I try to offer gentle direction to guide her in decision-making and in helping her to see her potential...but we also like just being silly together.

Express: Why did you start volunteering?
Jelinek: I love being a mother to my two now-adult daughters, and I felt like I could offer the involvement of another caring adult in the life of a girl in our community. It doesn’t take much time to make a difference in a child’s life.

Express: What are your biggest takeaways from volunteering?
Jelinek: My biggest takeaway from volunteering is that my Little and I are both gaining enjoyment and learning from each other. I believe that being dependable and present in her life has had a very positive impact. We’ve had many special moments together over the years, especially in the summer swimming at Clinch Park Beach and sailing on the Nauti-Cat. But we’ve also had many great moments together doing simple things like walking around downtown and window shopping or checking out the murals, bowling (with or without bumpers), playing board games, making art, and baking and cooking together. We’ve shared the gift of time with each other.