Warsaw Man Awarded 2022 Big Of The Year
News Release
WARSAW — Warsaw native Zane Hollar has been selected as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana’s Big of the Year for 2022.
Zane Hollar
Each year, the agency selects a Big Brother and Big Sister from one of its 13 counties to honor as “Big of the Year”. For Hollar, this honor is long overdue. Matched in 2015 through the “School Buddies” program, Zane volunteered to meet with a local child once a week during school lunch. During this time, Hollar formed a bond with his School Buddy Chris, helped him with homework and became a trusted confidant.
Zane Hollar is shown with Chris.
One year later, Chris asked his mother to transition to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Program, where he and Big Brother Zane could meet outside of school for special outings. Chris and Zane have been meeting regularly ever since, and Zane even attended Chris’ high school graduation in 2022. As per the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission, Zane has worked hard to defend and ignite Little Brother Chris’ potential by helping him keep his grades up and seek job opportunities that fit his interests.
“I remember the first time we walked out together after meeting at Chris’s elementary school,” said Zane. “I knew right then that I made the right choice and that I was doing something that was going to have a big impact on my life as well.”
“Over the years, Big Brother Zane has been involved with just about everything at BBBS, he has been one of our loudest voices promoting growth in his local county – particularly among the younger generation. He is a personal donor and works with BBBS on special events, collecting auction items for fundraisers, hosting tables, giving speeches, and helping with recruitment.” Says Shelley Schwab, Chief Development Officer.
“He is a voice for BBBS within his company and advocates for BBBS nonstop! He presents to business groups, champions BBBS in the hallways of his workplace, and on the stage! Zane gives everything he possibly can to further the mission for BBBS, including being the Ambassador Chair. When Little Brother Chris graduated high school, Zane was there.”
As the next step of the Big of the Year process, Zane will be nominated for Indiana State Big of the Year and – if he wins – for nationals. In the past twelve years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana has won three National Big of the Year awards, and in 2021, its Big Sister of the Year and Big Brother of the Year both hailed from Kosciusko County, with honors going to Big Couple Terry and Sherry Milton as well as Big Sister Wanda Tiltges.
