Miranda Pederson/Daily News Siblings Madison Spradlin, 9, and Jeffrey Spradlin, 6, are enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, but only Madison has been matched with a volunteer.

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Six-year-old Jeffrey Spradlin - aka “Jayro” - could use a friend.

Like most young boys his age, the Plano Elementary School kindergartner loves the outdoors, fishing, football (the Tennessee Titans), cars of any kind and video games. Jeffrey recently moved to Bowling Green with his mother from Omaha, Neb., and needs a positive male role model in his life.

But like 172 other boys in the area, Jeffrey is on a waiting list for a Big Brother because of a shortage of male volunteers.

Only half of the boys in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Kentucky program, which serves Warren, Allen and Barren counties, have been matched, according to Brian Becker, the agency’s chief executive officer.

“In order for more children to be positively impacted, we need men in our community to step up,” he said. “All we ask is for volunteers to carve out one to two hours a week to spend with a child they’ll have something in common with. A lot of guys spend that amount of time every day on Facebook or watching sports, so it’s actually not that much time. More times than not, volunteers receive just as much benefit from the friendship as the children do.”

Jeffrey is often quiet but quickly engages with people when his interest is sparked. DeAnna Coles, a match specialist with BBBS, is working to find a mentor for him, but it has been difficult.

“Jeffrey is getting adjusted to a new environment, new school and does not have a relationship with his father, all of which can take a toll on a young child,” Coles said.

“He can benefit from being matched because it will bring a consistent male role model into his life,” she said. “When a child has someone in their lives who spends consistent, quality time with them, other than a family member, it provides a huge boost to the child’s self-esteem. This positively impacts their attitude towards school, their relationships with family and friends and, ultimately, how well they succeed in life.”

Coles matched Jeffrey’s sister, 9-year-old Madison Spradlin, with Big Sister Elaine Griffin, a graphic designer from Bowling Green.

“Madison and I have gotten to know one another quite well and I am still glad I took the plunge to volunteer as a Big Sister,” said Griffin, who spends a lot of time doing art projects and cooking with Madison. “The best was a few months after meeting her and I showed up at her school one day unannounced to have lunch with her; as soon as she saw me, her face lit up with a huge smile and I thought, ‘That’s why I’m doing this.’ ”

Madison Spradlin is an articulate, intelligent child with a warm smile and a soft voice. She is a good student who loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.

“Miss Elaine is really creative and we do fun things,” Madison said. “We went to a Hot Rods game and they put us on the big screen and she has taken me to Jackson’s Orchard and Chaney’s Dairy Barn, too.”

She spoke too about the simple things her Big Sister does to brighten her life, like having a spontaneous “carpet picnic” on the floor of the trailer where she lives. She also wants to see her little brother partnered with someone who is “kind, generous and will listen to how he feels about things.”

Madison and Griffin’s friendship has been a match made in heaven for the little girl, said grandmother and guardian Charlotte Doss, who wants to see Jeffrey matched with a Big Brother.

“Miss Elaine has definitely had a positive influence on Madison,” she said. “I’d like to see Jeffrey be able to develop trust in a male figure and have a positive male role model in his life after what he has been through. Jayro sees how much fun his sister is having and he wants to be a part of that, too.”

Studies have shown the BBBS program has a significantly positive impact on the quality of children’s lives. Local program evaluations have shown that children have increased self-confidence, improved academic performance and are more able to avoid delinquent behavior and substance abuse. National studies also have shown that Big Brother and Big Sister mentors make a difference. Children are more confident in school performance, able to get along better with their families, less likely to begin using illegal drugs and alcohol, and less likely to skip school.

“BBBS has had a shortage of male volunteers for as long as I have been with them, which is unfortunate,” Griffin said. “It is important for both girls and boys to have male role models in their life - but even more so for boys. Jeffrey’s Big Brother can have a lot of influence on the man he turns out to be, which is huge. I think many people underestimate how much your relationship with a child can affect them. Madison and Jeffrey are both terrific, and whoever steps up to be his Big Brother will not regret it.”

About BBBS

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a national mentoring agency that pairs volunteers with children. Matches participate in activities either at school or throughout the community. It is a private, donor-funded and volunteer-supported, nonprofit organization with the majority of its funding generated through fundraising efforts such as Bowl For Kids’ Sake and Spirits in the Cave. A portion of its funding also comes from the United Way of Southern Kentucky, foundations and grants, and private donations.

Founded in October 1973 and originally part of Youth Bureau Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bowling Green became Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Kentucky with the incorporation of the agency in Glasgow/Barren County in 1996. The agency then became a tri-county agency in the fall of 2002, when the program was started in Allen County.

With an at-risk population exceeding 7,500 youth, BBBS’ long-term plans are to match more than 550 youth per year. Money spent on a child is tax deductible.