'Little Brother' says mentor's accountability, friendship made lasting impact
Joel Mowery said the 19th annual Golf for Kids’ Sake Tournament this month was more than a time to play golf and raise money for the good cause of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock.
It was an opportunity to continue his commitment to an organization he fell in love with when he volunteered to serve as a "Big Brother" to help a young boy named Michael Scott in need of a mentor more than 30 years ago.
Mowery, a co-owner of SERVPRO of Southwest Lubbock, has since expanded his work for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock, serving as an advocate and sponsor of the non-profit organization that matches children in need with safe mentors.
The more than $690,000 Mowery and his company, SERVPRO of Southwest Lubbock, have helped raise in the 19-year history of the golf tournament are making an impact, serving as the non-profit organization's biggest fundraiser each year.
While the money is important, Mowery said, the time and commitment from volunteers - including himself - are what make Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock a success at helping guide young people through mentorship.
"I think everybody needs mentors ... and I think part of what Big Brothers Big Sisters does is bring mentorship," Mowery said.
For his "Little Brother," now a 43-year-old executive chef in the Phoenix area, the reward comes in having someone believe in you and push you to be better.
"I wouldn't be the man I am today - the father I am - if I didn't have someone like Joel show me what it is to be a man and give me that example," Scott said.
Golf For Kids' Sake
Nearly $90,000 was raised to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock earlier this month during the annual Golf for Kids’ Sake Tournament.
The event, which celebrated its 19th year, kicked off April 26 with a concert, dinner and auction at SERVPRO and continued Friday, May 3, at LakeRidge Country Club with a tournament featuring hundreds of participants. SERVPRO of Southwest Lubbock once again served as the chief sponsor for the event, with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal serving as a media sponsor for this year's event.
Leaders with SERVPRO and Big Brothers Big Sisters gathered last week for a check presentation, announcing a total of $87,576 raised by the event will go to the non-profit organization.
Since starting this tournament, they have raised about $691,000 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. They estimate it takes about $1,500 to help match each child with a mentor, factoring in background checks and other oversight.
Ahead of the event, Mowery talked with the Avalanche-Journal about the lessons, fun and other experiences from his time as a Big Brother. An important lesson, he recalled, was the benefit of both being a mentor and having a mentor in one's life.
Mowery was 32 when he was inspired to volunteer as a mentor for the organization, which paired him with 10-year-old Scott, who was one of several siblings being raised by a single mother.
Both Mowery and Scott told the A-J the experience bonded them for life and made them better men.
Learning from a Big Brother
Scott said being paired with Joel proved to be just what he needed to transition from adolescence into adulthood during trying times.
He recalled being a bit unaware of what was happening in his life at the time he was paired with Mowery. His parents were recently divorced and he was working with counselors and non-profit organizations when he was matched with a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"I remember they were like, 'Hey, this is Big Brother Joel. He's going to hang out with you a little bit.'" Scott recalled. "And I was like, 'OK?' - I didn't know what was going on, like I said - but it was just nice to have someone there."
But the two quickly hit it off. Despite the age difference, Scott said he viewed Mowery as both a friend and mentor.
"We were out there spending time together, from going to Texas Tech games and movies and stuff or playing on their adult softball league when I was 15 years old," he said, adding the time time with Mowery provided a bit of an escape from some of life's troubles.
"We would do stuff like that and just get away from what was going on in my normal life," Scott said. "And no matter what we were doing, they were things that, with my lifestyle at the time I would have never been able to experience."
He also credits Joel for shaping his work ethic and giving him early on-the-job experience.
"I mean, he put me to work," Scott said, recalling at first helping Mowery mow the grass. "Later on, I'm 14 years old and I'm at one of the hotels working with his company and we're pulling up carpet and doing water restoration with all of his crew. He taught me early on that anywhere in life you want to get, you've got to work hard for it."
Although Scott's career path would ultimately take him into the restaurant industry, where he know serves as an executive chef in Arizona, the lessons about hard work were crucial to his success.
"I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for him," Scott said. "He set that example for what a man should be in my life. And just him being around. And it wasn't just him being a Big Brother. It was someone to hang out with, someone to talk with."
Asked how he thinks having Mowery as a Big Brother changed his life trajectory, Scott said he thinks it came in the form of being told he could do better than where he was at in life.
"Give me an example of what life should be," Scott said. "I didn't have to be satisfied with what I had at the time and, like I said, through hard work, that will open up a lot of doors for you. And having someone there who I didn't want to disappoint really made a difference."
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock, including how to volunteer, check out their website at https://bbbslubbock.org/ or call them at (806) 763-6131.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Golf For Kids' Sake raises nearly $90K for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lubbock
