The 2025-26 academic year is about to begin in Manatee County and this year will bring the Bigs with Badges program to fruition at the Ida M. Stewart Elementary School in Bradenton.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast director of impact Brandi McArthur and West Manatee Fire Rescue Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski spoke with The Islander recently about their excitement to continue the youth mentorship program.
BBBS is a volunteer-supported network that matches adult volunteers with children to help the kids with school, nurture confidence and minimize “risky behaviors.” BBBS of the Sun Coast covers Manatee and Sarasota counties, as well as Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Lee.
Bigs with Badges matches WMFR staff with students at Stewart Elementary, 7905 15th Ave. NW, Bradenton. There, the Bigs will read to the Littles, help them with schoolwork and eat lunch together at Stewart.
The program started late last school year, when fire Chief Ben Rigney, deputy Chief Jay Johnson, Kwiatkowski and finance clerk Page Larson were matched and introduced to six students. While they got to meet each other, eat pizza and spend some time together, their introduction was cut short by the end of the school year.
“It took a long time to get matched,” Kwiatkowski, who was matched with two Littles, told The Islander on July 30. “So we’ve only met with them that one time at the school.”
In the new year, the Bigs with Badges will visit their Littles monthly.
McArthur told The Islander on July 31 that BBBS is excited for the program to get underway.
“The kids were so excited when they got matched. … Every kid that was getting matched with one of the WMFR firefighters could not wait to get their Big,” she said. “And they’re so excited for this program to kick back off.”
McArthur said Littles look up to first responders, so the firefighters made ideal Bigs for kids in need of role models.
“Everybody needs somebody they can look up to,” McArthur said. “To have this person come in that works for the fire department and be their own person that they can have to ask questions of or relate to or get help from. … It’s just huge.”
“It’s just so good to have these professional role models in our society willing to step in and help children succeed,” she added.
McArthur said she hoped WMFR’s involvement is just the beginning for the Bigs with Badges program, which she hopes to expand.
Kwiatkowski was on the same page.
“We’re looking to get more people involved,” he said. “Hopefully, we get more firefighters here and around the county to sign up. … Kids think firefighters are superheroes.”
People can apply to become a Big for BBBS of the Sun Coast by visiting the organization’s website, bbbssun.org.