Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts has named Eric Wirth, 41, of South Boston, and Jalil Presley-Rogers, 17, of Dorchester, as the agency’s 2024 Match of the Year. The selection is one of nearly 4,000 matches the nonprofit serves annually with one-to-one mentoring relationships. 
Wirth was matched with his mentee, 12-year-old Jalil Presley-Rogers, who is referred to as his Little, in 2019. Over the past five years, they have enjoyed exploring Boston together, playing basketball, visiting museums, and supporting each other through tough times, which was especially the case when they maintained their connection virtually during the pandemic. The two of them have also been active in the community volunteering and advocating for people with disabilities and for increased gun safety.

Born with a hearing impairment, Presley-Rogers, now 17, understands what it’s like to overcome obstacles. He has also witnessed violence in his neighborhood. For his part, Wirth has been by Presley-Rogers’s side every step of the way as his Little channels his own experiences to help others for which he was honored by the Boston Celtics in 2022 with the “Heroes Among Us” award.

As Jalil, now a high school junior, prepares to apply to college to pursue a career in sports medicine, Wirth could not be prouder. His mentee works hard academically and credits him for teaching him that success can come in many forms, including recognizing an area for growth and asking for help.

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ matches consistently spend more time together, and continue as a match for longer periods than those in other mentoring programs.

Anyone can become a Big as the agency welcomes youth and adults of all races, ethnicities, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and physical abilities.

For more information, to become a volunteer, or to register your children, visit emassbigs.org.