57 Kids in Johnson County Are Waiting for a Mentor Right Now

By Jake Stiles

Jake Stiles has been a trusted real estate professional in Central Indiana since 2005, bringing nearly two decades of experience to every transaction. As the leader of Team Stiles, Jake is committed to helping homebuyers, sellers, and investors navigate the market with ease.

There are 57 kids in Johnson County, 14 girls and 43 boys, on a waiting list right now for one thing: a mentor. Not a program, not a speech, just one consistent adult who’s willing to show up. When you sit with that number, it stops being a statistic pretty quickly. Those are kids in our own community waiting to feel seen and supported.

Our own Misty Scholl is personally involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, and this cause is close to her heart. When she heard about the “500 Bigs by the Indy 500” campaign, she knew she had to get involved. What she didn’t expect was how many of those kids waiting for a Big were right here in Johnson County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been doing this for a long time. Over 120 years nationwide and more than 50 years in Central Indiana. It’s one of the most established mentorship organizations in the country, and the results speak for themselves. Mentored youth are more likely to stay engaged in school, perform better academically, and build stronger emotional resilience. The impact isn’t anecdotal. It’s real and measurable, backed by decades of data showing that mentorship can change a young person’s life trajectory.

What being a Big actually looks like is simpler than most people think. It’s spending time with a kid a couple of times a month. Grabbing a meal, doing something fun, just showing up. That’s it. Big Brothers Big Sisters even helps provide free or low-cost activities, so staying connected doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You don’t need to be a perfect person. You just need to be willing.

The “500 Bigs by the Indy 500” campaign is aiming to recruit more mentors across Central Indiana so fewer kids have to wait. Right now, there are kids in Johnson County and communities across the region who are on that list, and every new Big who signs up is one fewer kid waiting. People need people. It truly takes little to be a Big.

If you’ve ever thought about making a difference but didn’t know where to start, this is your start. We’d love to help connect you with Big Brothers Big Sisters and answer any questions you have about getting involved. Reach out to us at (317) 883-9461 or info@teamstiles.com, or visit GoTeamStiles.com. And if we can help you with anything in the world of real estate along the way, we’re always here for that too.