How Local Support Helps Big Buddy Give Boys the Gift of Consistency
In a world that often tells boys to toughen up and carry on, Big Buddy offers something different: one good man, showing up week after week, with no agenda other than to be there.
For boys growing up without their dads, that presence can be life changing. But behind every successful match is a network of support — including the people and businesses who quietly make it possible.
This year, Tauranga investment firm Oriens Capital donated $2,500 to Big Buddy through the Acorn Foundation, helping fund efforts to recruit, screen, match, and support more mentors for more boys across the Western Bay of Plenty.
Oriens doesn’t give for recognition — they give because they care about their community. Every year, they choose causes that feel meaningful to their team — where their effort can make a real difference. They were drawn to Big Buddy for its simplicity and depth: one man showing up for one boy, and the ripple effect that has on whānau and futures.
For local mum Sarsha Healey, that kind of support has made a lasting difference.
She first connected with Big Buddy 15 years ago, when her eldest son was seven. After separating from her husband — who later moved overseas — she suddenly found herself parenting alone and worried about what her son might be missing.
A friend suggested Big Buddy. Nearly a year after joining the waitlist, she got the call — just days after learning her son’s father had passed away. “The timing couldn’t have been more crucial,” she says.
Years later, Sarsha reached out again — this time for her youngest, Roman. He was matched with Dan (Danny Prior), a steady, kind-hearted mentor who has now been in his life for nearly four years.
At first, Roman was shy. But Dan kept showing up. “Roman always comes home saying he’s had such a great time… It sends the message ‘You matter’,” says Sarsha. “He’s just so consistent,” she adds.
It’s not about big outings — it’s about reliability. About a boy knowing there’s someone out there, that cares about supporting him on his way up.
“Most single mums think they can do everything. And we try. But there are certain things we can’t do,” Sarsha says. “I think I’m the bee’s knees, but there are things I’ve noticed, just in the way men think and their perspectives, that really do make a difference.”
Dan originally committed to mentoring Roman for a year. But for him, it was never about the timeframe. “I’ll always be there for him,” he says, “whenever he needs me.” That kind of connection doesn’t happen by accident. It takes time, care, and long-term support.
In the Bay of Plenty, that work is led by Brad Fleming — a local mentor and gold medalist from New Zealand’s 2002 Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens team. Now serving as Big Buddy’s Western Bay Mentoring Manager, Brad says: “A man the boy can look up to and trust can be life changing.”
Through the Acorn Foundation, Oriens Capital has been able to support local causes in a way that’s simple, meaningful, and deeply rooted in community. “Corporate giving is at its best when it creates real outcomes for real people” says Matty Nicholson, Acorns Corporate & Community Giving Specialist. “What Oriens has done here is simple but powerful — they’ve chosen to stand behind a programme that’s changing lives in our own backyard. That kind of support goes beyond a donation; it’s an investment in the wellbeing and future of our community.”
Their gift means more boys like Roman will be matched. More mums like Sarsha will have support. And more men like Dan will get the chance to show up — and keep showing up — for the boys who need them.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about grand gestures. It’s all about showing up.