Fresno State Athletics
Big Heroes, Little Heroes Program: Connecting Fresno State With Community
 |  The Big Hero is able to provide support to the Little Hero while taking part in the fun activities that are scheduled throughout the school year. |
April 29, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - The Big Heroes/Little Heroes program is a special program coordinated by the Rotary Club of Fresno, Children's Hospital of Central California and the Fresno State Athletics Department that unites student-athletes with sick kids. A Bulldog student-athlete, known as the Big Hero, is allowed to spend time with his or her designated Little Hero in the program that has been in existence since 1992.
There are approximately 50 Fresno State student-athletes in the program who volunteer their time with children who are suffering from a catastrophic trauma or illness in their day-to-day lives. Designed so that each child is teamed up with his or her own Big Hero, the program ensures the two heroes have time to interact with each other throughout the academic year, beginning with the start of the fall semester. The Big Hero is able to provide support to the Little Hero while taking part in the fun activities that are scheduled throughout the school year.
Holly Bond, an administrative support coordinator in the athletics department, works with the Rotary Club of Fresno to match up student-athlete volunteers with the kids and helps work out a schedule of events for the year. Quite often, the program is able to match up two athletes to one child. And upon the child's request, the child can have the same Big Hero for as long as that athlete volunteers. One Little Hero has had the same Big Hero for three years.
"It is a real goodwill program that helps everyone all around," said Bond. "The kids idolize our athletes and Fresno State. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to become friends. It's amazing."
What makes the program such a positive experience is that the Little Hero is able to attend different functions and activities throughout the year with the same Big Hero. From pizza parties to petting zoos to the end-of-the-year picnic that concludes the year-long schedule of events, there are usually at least six functions planned throughout the year on Wednesday evenings to accommodate the athletes' team schedules.
Frank Oliver, in his first year as co-chair of the Little Heroes Committee with the Fresno Rotary Club, works with the hospital to find prospective Little Heroes. This year's list of Little Heroes included 24 patients who were up for the chance to team up with some Bulldogs - an opportunity Oliver says means so much to the kids.
A lasting image in Oliver's mind took part at a recent function when he saw 3-4 laughing kids hanging on the back of men's basketball center Jack Marlow.
"These kids were having the time of their lives," said Oliver. "And Jack was giggling and having as much fun as the kids.
"When you have athletes at Fresno State that reach out and care about these kids, take the time to make them feel special and help them have some fun and excitement, that is what will help these kids get better," said Oliver. "For a few minutes, the athletes get to be kids again and the kids forget they're sick and have some fun."
For more information on volunteering with the Big Heroes/Little Heroes program, student-athletes can contact their coach or the Athletics Department, located in the North Gym at Fresno State.