Kate Bonner,
A Hero In Our Midst

Despite more than a decade of commitment to service, Kate Bonner does not consider herself a volunteer. "I'm just a good friend," she says.

Every week, Kate Bonner, 50, visits her friend Anne at a local facility for the mentally handicapped. "She is a wonderful lady," said Kate. "She just likes to have someone to see her and take her on errands." Anne, 70, has lived at the facility since she was nine-years-old, and Kate has been to visit her every week for more than ten years.

Occasionally, Kate even takes her "Little," Julia, to visit Anne. Through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kate and Julia, now 13, have been matched for two and a half years. Initially, Kate and Julia met through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program at Julia's elementary school. During lunches of off periods each week, Kate would visit Julia to help with her homework, play a game, or just talk. But, when Julia moved to a school that did not have an in-school mentorship program, Kate became a Big Sister. "I didn't even hesitate. I just knew that I couldn't let her go."

By that time, Julia had already been placed with several different families, and "just needed some stability," Kate said. "She just needed the basic, simple things in life. She needed structure, and she needed to know her self worth. She needed to know that there was something else out there. I'm trying to show her she can be anything she wants to be."

Each week, Kate commutes the forty-five minutes from Frankfort to Richmond to see Julia. Together, they make scrapbooks, go shopping, play a game, or visit Kate's lake house to swim, boat, and fish. But, in addition to serving as a constant friend for Julia, Kate also provides structure and consistency. "Kate has been the only stability Julia has had in her life," said Kelly Hadley, Match Support Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. "Julia has had a lot of difficulty in school. Just getting to school was a challenge for Julia, but Kate volunteered to go to her home and get her off to school. Kate has been very dependable and very devoted."

Since their match, Kate has helped Julia to raise her grades in school and to see the importance of attending more consistently. She has also helped Julia transition to a foster home where the parents are treating her "wonderfully." And she has developed a lasting relationship with her Little. "I don't know where I would be without her," said Julia. "Kate is very caring. Whenever I don't have shoes or a coat, she will get me some. She is currently working with my school to get me a tutor. Kate was there every day for me while I was in the hospital, and she always tries to cheer me up when I am down. She is a great person with a big heart, and I am glad she is in my life."

"But it has given back to me much more than I have given to it," said Kate of her work with Julia and Anne. "I think one of the things that I enjoy so much about Julia and about Anne is the unconditional love. They don't care what I look like or if my hair's fixed. They just care that I'm there for them and that I'm myself."

Already, grateful members of the Lexington community have expressed their appreciation for Kate's outstanding work through cards. "I send greeting cards all the time," Kate said, "just to let family and friends know I'm thinking of them. But the idea of getting them myself is great."

To express your thanks to Kate, please send cards to:

Kate Bonner
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass
1122 Oak Hill Drive
Lexington, KY 40505