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Local Volunteer Honored at State Level   printer  

From L to R, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Becky Campbell is shown with Tennessee Big Brother of the Year Rickey Field, his Little Brother DaJuan, and DaJuan’s mother, Renee Flowers.

The selection committee of the Tennessee State Association of Big Brothers Big Sisters has named Rickey Field as Big Brother of the Year representing the State of Tennessee.
Field has been a volunteer mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee program for the past seven years to DaJuan, a now sixteen year old Murfreesboro student on his way to a brighter future thanks in part to his Big Brother’s influence.
Field has been an athletic coach and teacher at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro for more than a decade, in addition to serving as associate pastor of Freedom of Worship Outreach Church. He has been involved in almost every aspect of his Little Brother’s life, helping to guide him into a successful, productive future.
“Coach Field is an example of just the type of person we need to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters,” commented Lowell Perry, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. “He’s a busy guy, but he finds time for just a couple of hours a week to spend time with his Little Brother, even during football season (referring to Field’s role as football coach for Riverdale).”
Field and DaJuan enjoy all sorts of activities together, from sports and movies to working on school assignments and planning for the future. DaJuan has shown remarkable improvement in his academics, attitude, and decision making since being “matched” with his Big Brother.
It is through the simplest of everyday activities that children realize there is another adult in their lives, in addition to their parents, who is simply available for a conversation, some advice, or an all important role model.
When asked about Fields being honored, DaJuan’s mother, Renee Flowers, commented, “The friendship with Coach Rickey has not only impacted DaJuan’s life but mine as well. As a single parent it has been a challenge to raise a young male. Coach Rickey made me more aware of how to have a stronger relationship with my son and has given me insight on how to raise him.”
Right now Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee has approximately 200 children waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister, primarily African American boys awaiting a Big Brother like Field.
To learn more about supporting the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, visit www.mentorakid.org or call (615) 329-9191.


5/15/2008, 12:55 PM

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters is certainly a part of the answer to improving these children’s lives and their communities, and investing in Big Brothers Big Sisters will change how our children grow up in America.
Studies show that children with a mentor are less likely to become involved in drugs, gangs, and violence… and their grades and behavior improve as a result.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee serves children all across Middle Tennessee in Metro Nashville/Davidson county as well as Rutherford, Williamson, Cheatham, Hickman, Dickson, Robertson, Sumner, and Wilson counties.
For more information, call (615) 329-9191 or visit mentorakid.org. The administrative offices for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee are located at 1704 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 130, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.