As the superintendent of the Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools, Brad Bergstrom impacts so many local kids each and every day. But he also understands how important one-to-one relationships are for kids, so he wanted to do more.
Brad and Damin met for the first time in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, and for the last four and a half years they have formed a relationship built on a love of new foods, conversation and laughter, and trust. Brad taught Damin to drive, Damin is invited to Brad's family holiday celebrations, and the pair toured the culinary program at SCTCC together as Damin ponders what the future holds for him. Now, Brad is the 2025 Central Minnesota Big Brothers of the Year! (Damin was the 2023 Little Brother of the Year!)

"I have shared with Damin that like it or not, he is a part of our family," Brad said. "I am the luckiest Big Brother in the world because I have Damin in my world. I can't imagine him not being in my life now or moving forward."

It costs $2,000 per year to support matches like Brad and Damin. Your donation helps increase self-confidence, educational success and the outlook on life of our Littles - and ensures that every match is professionally supported every step of the way!

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, we take the safety of our Littles very seriously, and every staff member and volunteer that is a part of the program - Bigs or otherwise - are required to pass a background check.

Each background check costs $50. In order to make the process of becoming a Big or volunteer as easy as possible, our agency covers the cost of every background check. With your support, we can continue to get Bigs through the interview process as quickly as possible and keep our Littles safe!