How One Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters Match Became a Lifelong Bond
By Robin Layton for YBBBS
When Prescott Valley’s Nanci and Kevin met Jackson, he was a quiet six-year-old with big brown eyes and a hint of hesitation. Now a high school sophomore, Jackson is family, literally.
Their first day together was a simple picnic in Prescott, playing makeshift baseball. Since then, their bond has grown through adventures to the Grand Canyon, baking sessions, chess games, and Super Bowl parties where Jackson is the chef. He’s even become a skilled quilter and a proud uncle to Nanci and Kevin’s grandchildren, affectionately known as “Myjackson” to little Leo.
But the match is more than the activities. It’s the connection.
“Jackson changed our lives for the better,” said Nanci. “What they forget to say is these children mentor our souls.”
Jackson’s mother, Megan, agreed: “Nanci and Kevin helped me navigate single motherhood. They’re not just a match, they’re family.”
Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters is more than a mentoring program; it’s a bridge to lifelong relationships, resilience and joy.
Join us. Support us. Help more kids like Jackson, and more Bigs like Nanci and Kevin, find their match.
When you support YBBBS, you’re not just changing a child’s future, you’re enriching your own.
Learn more at azbigs.org or by calling 928.778.5135.
Photo credit: Nanci and Jackson with her birthday cake that Jackson made for her. (Family photo)