A Lifelong Bond: Former Big Brother Still Connected to His Little More Than 38 Years Later
When Tim Guthrie, now a professor at Creighton University, signed up to be a Big Brother in 1987, he thought he was volunteering for a year. Nearly four decades later, he and his Little Brother, Max Robinson, are still in touch, a testament to the life-changing power of mentorship through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands (BBBSM).
Tim was a college student at Creighton when a friend encouraged him to volunteer. “It sounded like an amazing experience,” he recalled. “I never expected it to be such a tremendously rewarding experience, or that it would continue for the rest of my life.”
When Tim met Max, a then-shy 7-year-old passionate about music, everyone thought they looked like actual brothers. “Everyone said he looked like me. The person who matched us thought the same, which was only part of her reasoning for matching us. It also had to do with his interest in the arts (music) and the fact that I was in the arts (visual),” Tim said.
The pair spent their outings doing simple things: walking downtown, visiting Fontenelle Forest, and playing endless games at the Family Fun Center. “BBBS gave us coupons, and we would do things like go bowling or putt-putt golf. Whatever was cheap and fun. Max was always so thrilled to go anywhere,” said Tim. “His mom once told me that the thing he looked forward to most was when we’d get together.”
Now, 38 years later, their bond remains strong. Max is 46, and the two still keep in touch regularly. “We never lost touch, even when I lived in London,” Tim shared. “I’m closer to him than some of my own brothers.”
Tim says that being a Big Brother has made a big impact on him. “I was barely out of my teens when we met, and I grew up a lot in those first few years,” he said. “I began to act more like an adult, thanks to Max. He really made me appreciate the little things and doing as much as I could for others. I think I am more charitable because of him. I honestly think Max made me a better person, not the other way around.”
The need for male mentors has never been greater. Right now, more than 110 local youth are waiting for a mentor, and over half of them are boys. Due to a shortage of male volunteers, boys currently wait an average of 248 days to be matched, with some waiting years.
“We need a pool of volunteers with diverse interests to create meaningful matches,” said Alicia Carrera, Volunteer Recruitment Manager. “Every day a young person waits, they miss out on experiences and guidance that could help shape their future and unlock their full potential.”
To men who hesitate to volunteer, Tim has this message: “You’ll enjoy the experience so much more than you can imagine. You’ll learn more from your Little than you could ever teach them.”
BBBSM has been serving youth across the Omaha metro for more than 65 years — matching caring adult volunteers (“Bigs”) with youth ages 7–14 (“Littles”). Each match is guided by a dedicated Match Support Specialist who provides ongoing check-ins, resources, and encouragement to help the relationship thrive. Matches commit to spending just four hours a month together for at least one year, though many continue well beyond that. Mentoring changes lives — for both the Little and the Big.
Youth in the program often see improved academic performance, increased self-confidence, and reduced risky behaviors. Having a consistent, caring adult helps them build stronger social skills and envision a brighter future.
For mentors, the experience is just as rewarding. Bigs frequently report strengthened leadership and communication skills, greater empathy, and a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment from knowing they’ve made a lasting difference in a young person’s life.
