How Mentorship Drives Impact: CEO Pat Sukhum’s Big Night Gala Message
April 27, 2026
I became a Big 28 years ago. I remember I was sitting in my office at work and I grabbed a phone book. Remember those?
I called Big Brothers Big Sisters and signed up.
I was matched with Derrick. He was nine. I was 24.
We have a ton of stories but I want to tell one that is deeply ingrained in me.
It was a year-and-a-half after we’d been matched. Derrick was celebrating a birthday, so I took him and a couple of his friends to Chuck E. Cheese.
To give you a feel for our relationship, before we went, Derrick and I made T-shirts with fabric markers that the other would have to wear that day. The one Derrick made for me said “Kick Me” on the back. Just like a brother.
It was a really fun day celebrating Derrick. When we left Chuck E. Cheese, one of Derrick’s buddies jumped into the front seat of my car, and Derrick and his other friend piled into the back. I didn’t think much of it and drove them home.
Later that night, I got a call from Derrick’s mom. She thanked me for the day. Then told me Derrick had been really sad. Had shed a few tears.
I was alarmed. I asked why.
She said Derrick was worried that when his friend jumped in the front seat… I might not be his Big Brother anymore.
Oof.
Up to that point, I had so enjoyed being Derrick’s Big Brother. But I wasn’t sure how Derrick felt about me. Did he like me? Did he want me around? He was a ten-year-old kid. He wasn’t just going to tell me.
But in that moment, I knew I was in it for life.
With this kid.
With my brother.
I don’t tell that story to embarrass Derrick. Or to show how dense I might be at reading signals. I share it because it shows the hidden power of this mission.
Now, two additional things to add to this story:
If you do want to kick me later, I’m wearing that T-shirt Derrick made for me under this second-cheapest Men’s Warehouse tuxedo. Depending on how wild the after-party gets… maybe it’ll come out.
Second, Derrick is here tonight. Derrick, would you mind standing up?
He’s sitting with his partner Alison, and my sister Pam and my brother-in-law, Ben. He’s known by so many of my friends in this room.
My version of family has always been small and close.
Somewhere along the way, Derrick, you became a central part of that. Thank you.
Grateful for what this organization was giving me, even way back when, I started volunteering in other ways. Ultimately, I joined the board in 2010.
Then, five years ago, when the previous CEO exited, my fellow board members asked me to help the search firm create the job description. At that point, I had a lot of history with the organization, and frankly, I loved talking about Big Brothers Big Sisters.
So I met with them for an hour. Pretty casual. Just sharing my experiences.
At the end of that conversation, they asked me, “Have you ever thought about applying?”
In true unfiltered me, I blurted out, “No. Never.”
But something sparked. Some excitement. Some curiosity. Probably some terror.
Derrick was one of the first people I went to. I remember sitting on my couch with my then 32-year-old Little, asking what I should do.
He said go for it. He also said. I got your back.
Of course, I made a long list of excuses. I’ve had a life in health tech startups. Kind of late for a career change. What can I bring? What if they don’t want me?
And Derrick, in the kind of jabby way only a brother can deliver, said,
“Sounds like you’re scared.”
And there it was. Fear.
My startup life was full of risks. But the stakes felt so much higher. Fear of not showing up in the way this mission deserves.
To Jacie’s point earlier, it was because I cared.
That level of caring makes all of us more powerful champions.
And when you see the care that goes into this work, you understand it’s built on a 100-year legacy. A legacy created well before me. Built by hundreds of thousands of participants and partners, the vast majority I’ll never know.
I was the right leader here at a crucial time. I’m deeply proud of that. And, I know the best is yet to come.
The organization is in an incredible place.
A strong foundation to create more matches, deeper relationships, and clearer pathways to future success. And, we’re going to measure the impact so everyone sees how the mentoring relationships we support, create positive outcomes for young people.
To my discovery with Derrick’s mom, there’s no reason to hide the value of mentoring.
And it still starts in those matches. In those stories.
Dejwaun, Brian, and Luke’s story.
Naomi and Jacie’s story.
Derrick and my story.
And the countless stories Littles and Bigs create every day, through the over 2,400 young people we served each year
And those stories build into collective impact.
There’s a recent national study, A Future Built on Mentorship, that you’ll be hearing more about in the coming months.
This report brings together long-term research on the impact of mentorship specifically through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
As you saw earlier, 40% of youth report feeling persistently sad or hopeless.
With mentorship, 91% of youth report a stronger sense of belonging.
Chronic school absenteeism has doubled since the pandemic.
Mentored youth attend school more regularly, perform better academically, and are 20% more likely to enroll in college.
They are also less likely to use drugs or alcohol, or become involved in the justice system.
And that builds to bigger futures.
Youth in our programs earn 15% more over their lifetimes.
Think about how that changes the trajectory of a life.
And it has a ripple effect
Mentors benefit too. They experience stronger leadership skills. Greater connection. More engagement at work.
Employers gain too. That 15% in increased earnings is also a 15% increase in productivity.
And Communities, they see a three-to-one return on every dollar invested. Stronger workforce. Greater opportunity. Reduced long-term costs.
And, I know this ripple effect personally.
One hundred percent of the reason I am in this role… is because I was a Big.
What we learn is this: mentoring is essential to the development of a young person.
For youth to succeed, they need both opportunity and relationships.
They need skills, and they need someone who believes in them.
Mentoring delivers both.
Like Princess said, you can overcome anything when someone is cheering for you.
Most of us in this room have been fortunate to mentor, and to be mentored. We know. Big Brothers Big Sisters ensures all young people have an equitable opportunity to have a mentor.
I know with what’s upcoming for me, I could spend the entire night thanking each and every one of you. For the support. The compassion. The joy.
I’m so grateful, and I have loved being on this journey with you.
But, I want to end where this started for me.
Twenty-eight years ago, I picked up a phone book and made a call that changed my life.
I had no idea it would lead to Derrick.
I had no idea it would lead to this stage.
And I definitely had no idea it would lead to this community.
But that’s what mentoring does.
One relationship becomes a ripple.
One ripple becomes a movement.
One movement changes futures.
Thank you for being part of that ripple.
Watch Pat Sukhum’s speech from the 2026 Big Night Gala, our annual fundraiser and celebration of the power of mentorship.
Invest in the next generation
Mentorship is more than a moment, it’s a ripple that shapes futures, strengthens communities, and expands what’s possible for young people.
