Hey! My name is Hayley and I am very lucky to be the big to a very special young woman named Sierra! I grew up in Philadelphia, where I was fortunate to have an incredible support system and experiences that have made the effort to do good a goal superiorly close to my heart. Many of these experiences I attribute to my time at a very special place, Central High School of Philadelphia, where I was given the opportunity to experience what the world could be like if every person came together in knowledge, acceptance, and love for one another. Central also provided me with the opportunity to continue my education at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the second in my family to ever attend college next to my own big sister. College proved to be a much different experience than growing up in Philly, and it was during my time at RIT that I found myself really holding onto the lessons I had learned at home. After graduating in May with my Bachelors of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, I took a position at the Albany Medical Center--a move I definitely was not anticipating, but was more than excited for. Once I moved to Albany, it became extremely clear that this was where I was supposed to be right now. Not long after beginning at AMC, an opportunity to work part-time within a fertility center came up and I was just over the moon. My days became full of the indescribable joy you feel when caring for your patients, amazing co-workers and new friends, and my cuddly pup, Curry. 

I had this moment where adulthood just hit me in the face and I realized I was finally at this point in my life that I had ben working so hard to get to for so long. I thought of all the people responsible for leading me here along the way--people like my basketball coach, my art teacher, and of course my big sister. What a different place the world would be if more kids had figures like the ones I had to encourage and uplift them. My coach used to tell me that whatever I decided to do, I would do it the best and obtain all the success in it I could because she knew I would never stop until I did. The impact words such as those from a person who sees you, really sees you, and believes in you whole-heartedly is immeasurable. Our impact on one another is immeasurable. I knew I wanted the opportunity to pay that immeasurable difference forward, and that is when I met Sierra.

Sierra and I both love to bowl--I only have one ​official​ league served under my belt, but she's been on her school's team forever. She absolutely adores animals, so she and Curry get along like two peas in a pod. I think all three of us get a little disappointed when Curry can't come along on one of our days together. In fact, just today as we were leaving the movies she said she wished that dogs could come to the theater. Needless to say, I couldn't agree more. She's an amazing musician, known mostly for her flute skills, and also a softball player with quite an arm I'​m excited to see in action this spring!

These past few months together have made Sierra and I so happy, and we are both grateful for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capitol Region for making this perfect match. We ask you to consider donating to the Grow Something Big campaign to make and sustain many more perfect matches like ours. Absolutely anything helps, and we thank you in advance for your immeasurable difference.

-Hayley & Sierra

Grow Something Big is all about celebrating the life-changing impact of mentoring and bringing that opportunity to more kids throughout the Capital Region. We can all think of mentors who've helped us grow into the people we are today. Where would you be without that person? Some communities don't have acces to an information network of mentors. That's where you come in. You can bring caring mentors into children's lives. Mentors help them think about their futures, making healthy choices, and having positive relationships. When you make a donation of any size, it changes lives. 

$15 - pays to bring a child to and from the Site-Based Program to see their college-aged mentors

$25 - interview of one child and their parent

$50 - state and federal backgrouned check for one volunteer

$100 - volunteer recruitment efforts

$250 - full enrollment of one volunteer