April 2017 Match of the Month

The Early Years - Dennis and Kaleb taking on the Rock Climbing wall at Planet Rock

Kaleb’s mom enrolled him when he was 7 years old...and was looking for someone who could be a male role model, someone he could build trust with and help him come out of his shell…be less shy.  About a year after enrolling him, we matched him with Dennis.  

Dennis had had three sons of his, the youngest having had just graduated from high school.  He had been very involved in their lives, and served as a cub scout leader, and wanted to stay connected to helping kids.

​We matched Dennis and Kaleb in May of 2008, which means that they are about to celebrate their 9th Match-A-Versary, as we call them.  And really, Dennis and Kaleb have connected over very everday activities.  They go out to eat, to movies, ride bikes, go to the park, Dennis helps with homework….and have taken up bowling.  It’s something that helped Kaleb’s confidence grow, as he practiced, his skills grew too!  But hanging out and showing Kaleb that he’s going to be a consistent person in his life is the real key to their friendship.

​Now that Kaleb’s 16, their conversations have shifted.  He’s more talkative.  They talk more about their lives and plans for the future.  Dennis describes it as ‘just natural’.  And Kaleb’s mom states that it’s been a great experience for him and his confidence has grown so much in his time with Dennis.