Saticoy CC golf tournament has 'Big' appeal
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers ON THE LINKS- Lynn Swann, left, member of the NFL Hall of Fame and national spokesman for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Camarillo resident Lynne West, center, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County; and the charity's golf tournament co-chair Dave Thompson, a Thousand Oaks resident, meet before the start of the Ventura County Golf Classic fundraiser at Saticoy Country Club in Somis on April 28.

Kelly Decker of Westlake Village had been a longtime contributor to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County but didn't think she had the time to be one of its mentors.

But a couple of years ago Decker decided to make time. She was matched with "Little Sister" Jessica Batchelor, 12. The two enjoy rock climbing and taking in live theater productions together.

Most of the time, though, they simply take time to talk.

"She's like a best friend," said Jessica, a sixth-grader from Simi Valley.

"We're each other's rock," Decker, 37, said. "It's been the most rewarding- if she gets half of what I get out of it then we're golden."

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County celebrated Decker and Jessica at its annual Technicolor Golf Classic April 28 at Saticoy Country Club. NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann was tournament host.

Swann replaced golf standout Corey Pavin, an Oxnard native who now lives in Texas. Pavin had hosted the tournament for a number of years but was unavailable because his wife recently gave birth to their first child.

Swann, national spokesperson for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America since 1980 and a member of its board of directors, said the organization improves the lives of children.

"I'm passionate about it, and we're getting great results," Swann said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is not set up as a drug prevention program, nor is it focused on correcting a child's bad behavior or helping teens graduate from high school, but it does all those things, Swann said to about 100 people representing the tournament's major sponsors and some of the 161 golfers who participated in the tournament.

Swann told the story of a boy in Chicago, deterred from gang life by his Big Brother, who went on to earn a full college scholarship by age 16.

"Where's the difference between this young man being a gang member and going to Harvard?" Swann said. "The difference was in Big Brothers and someone who stood up."

Swann, a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers 1974-82 , was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He played in four Super Bowls and, during his college days at University of Southern California, played in two Rose Bowls. He also had a 29year career as a TV sports broadcaster and analyst for ABC Sports.

He made an unsuccessful bid for governor of Pennsylvania in 2006 and lives with his wife, Charena, and their two young sons in Pittsburgh.

Lynne West, chief executive officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, said it was an honor to have Swann as host.

"He's very in tune with our mission," she said.

West said she expects the golf tournament to net the county chapter $175,000 this year, topping last year's $160,000.

The money is needed to support more "Big" and "Little" matches, she said. Professionally trained sociologists or social workers set up and regularly monitor each match to ensure all parties are safe.

The Ventura County chapter is growing. A few years ago, a staff of seven supported the mentoring needs of 400 children a week. Today, a 22-person staff sustains 1,000 children, age 6 through 18, every week in five mentoring programs.

But more needs to be done. The organization has over 100 "Littles" waiting to be matched with a "Big." The organization wants to have enough resources in two years to serve the needs of 2,000 Ventura County children.

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, call Terri Felix at (805) 484-2282, ext. 23.