Ben Ticho ’68, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass, still remembers the phone call he received following the tragic train accident that resulted in the death of Holy Cross senior lacrosse captain John Price in May 2000.
“I received a call from the lacrosse coach informing me that the team wanted to do something in John’s memory,” he said.
All remember Price as a wonderful, ambitious young man who enjoyed spending time with kids, which made the Big Brothers Big Sisters program seem like a perfect fit for the team, which has since had every single player and coach involved with the program.
Current senior lacrosse players Douglas Broussard and Brendan Candon say their involvement with the organization is important to them.
“How the volunteers begin the program is a key part of its success,” Broussard said. Initially, the volunteers interview with Melanie Perreault, vice president for programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass, and are matched with a “little”.
A benefit of having a relationship with a kid for four years, according to Broussard is that “You get to see them grow in many facets of life. At first, you are bombarded with statements like ‘What’s your name again?’ or "I don't have any work, let’s go play.’ As the years progress they start to trust you more. They talk to you about school work, after school activities, ask you to come around more, and even tell you about the occasional ‘girlfriend’ adventures that third to sixth graders encounter.”
In the 10 years that the lacrosse team has been working with the program, four other Holy Cross athletic teams, along with the cheerleaders, have joined the cause.
In 2005, the Crusader women’s soccer team joined the program with football the next to join in 2006. The cheerleaders followed in 2007, baseball in 2008, and field hockey teams joined in spring 2009.
In all, more than 150 of the 275 Holy Cross volunteers in the program were athletes last year, according to Perreault. The remaining students are part of Student Programs for Urban Development, a community service organization sponsored by the Chaplains' Office.
Perreault was eager to share stories of athletes’ personal connection to the program, including one involving football quarterback Dominic Randolph ’10 and his little brother, Franky.
“When Franky asked Dom if he would be his best friend for life, Dom was so excited he called me to let me know that Franky’s comment had made his day,” Perreault says.
Randolph, whose involvement with the program was recently highlighted in a New York Times article, has been Franky’s “big” for four years now.
“I’ve learned more and more about him each year. The first thing he said to me when we met was that he didn’t like when older people asked him questions,” Randolph said with a laugh. “Now he opens up and trusts more. He wants to go to college, which I encourage; I tell him to stay in school and try to instill positive values in him.”
Currently, half of the members of the football team are involved, with 50 to 70 players participating each semester.
Once a week, Randolph and his teammates shoot hoops, play football, help with homework and talk with their ‘littles,’ activities which “bring out the kid in you,” according to Randolph. Candon said half the time spent is on homework and half on games.
“It is really a win-win situation,” Ticho commented. “The kids gain self esteem which in turn results in higher grades, more friends and greater community participation. Meanwhile, the volunteers mature, have time to relax and see a different side of life.”
“Seeing the littles open up to you and seeing their report card grades increasing is the major reward from this program because this means you are trustworthy, positive mentor to your little. You truly feel like you are your little’s Big Brother,” Broussard commented.
Ticho said Holy Cross athletes, coaches, and students have made enormous contributions to his organization. “I don’t like to think about what the organization would be like without Holy Cross.”
“Holy Cross has been the leader in these programs and is a great draw to involving more corporations and college and high school students alike. Holy Cross’ Jesuit ideal of ‘men and women for others’ has made the school an easy one to reach into because of more inclination of students to get involved,” he said.
By Claire Luke ’10
Pictured: Football quarterback Dominic Randolph ’10 with his “little,” Franky.
Related Information:
- Athletics
- “Randolph weathers Patriot storms,” Telegram & Gazette, Oct. 25
- Holy Cross in the News
