If you know me, you probably aren’t surprised that I have a specialty license plate.
I’m a car guy.
Of course the plate matters.
Car people will spend ridiculous amounts of time deciding on wheels, exhaust systems, detailing products and exactly where to park so nobody opens a door into our car.
We’ll drive across town because somebody said there might be a good Cars & Coffee.
And yes, we’ll happily park 37 feet from the entrance and walk because there is absolutely no reason that minivan needs to be anywhere near our paint. 😂
So when Florida offered me a license plate that combined my love of cars with something that has become an incredibly important part of my life…
Yeah. That plate was going on my car.
On the back of my Mustang is a Big Brothers Big Sisters specialty plate.
And right in the middle are two very simple words:
BE BIG.
At first, I thought of it as another way to support an organization and mission I believe in.
But over the years I’ve realized something.
That little piece of metal on the back of my car has been recruiting Bigs even when I’m not.
More Than a Cool License Plate
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Florida specialty plate isn’t just about showing your support.
It actually provides it.
For each plate, $25 goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters to help support kids and mentoring programs throughout Florida.
Twenty-five dollars isn’t going to change the world by itself.
But thousands of people making that same little decision?
In fact, the numbers surprised even me.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay reported that Florida’s BBBS specialty plates generated over $200,000 for mentoring programs in 2024 alone and had generated more than $1.6 million since the program’s debut.
Think about that for a moment.
More than a million dollars for mentoring programs…
From license plates.
That’s a pretty good return on something your car needed anyway.
My Tiny Traveling Billboard
But I think there’s another part of this that’s just as valuable as the money.
Think about how many people see the back of your car during an average week.
You’re sitting at a traffic light.
Driving to work.
Parked at Publix.
Heading to dinner.
Sitting in traffic on I-75.
At a Mustang show.
At Cars & Coffee.
On a road trip.
Everywhere my car goes, those two words go with me:
BE BIG.
Some people will know exactly what they mean.
Some won’t.
Somebody may see the Big Brothers Big Sisters name along the bottom and recognize it.
Somebody else might be curious enough to look it up.
And maybe — just maybe — the person sitting behind me at a traffic light has been thinking about doing something more meaningful with a little of their spare time.
Maybe they’ve considered mentoring.
Maybe they’ve never considered it at all.
Two words aren’t going to explain what being a Big means.
But they might start a question.
And questions have a funny way of starting conversations.
What Does “BE BIG” Mean Anyway?
Those words mean something very different to me today than they would have ten years ago.
Before becoming a Big, I understood the basic idea.
An adult volunteers some time.
They’re matched with a young person.
They do things together.
The adult hopefully becomes a positive influence in that child’s life.
That’s mentoring.
Simple enough.
Except it really isn’t.
Because after you’ve been doing this awhile, #BEBIG stops being the name of a program or a slogan on a license plate.
It becomes personal.
For me, BE BIG means car rides and conversations.
It means bowling and amusement parks.
It means volunteering together.
It means introducing a kid to something he has never experienced before and watching his reaction.
It means asking how school is going — and occasionally getting an answer containing significantly fewer words than I was hoping for. 😂
It means listening.
It means keeping promises.
It means showing up.
Sometimes it means teaching.
And every once in a while, it means realizing that the kid you thought you were supposed to be teaching just taught you something instead.
I’ve had two Littles become part of my life during my years as a Big.
There are hundreds of memories attached to those relationships.
So when I see BEBIG on the back of my car now, I don’t really see a license plate anymore.
I see those memories.
You Don’t Have to Become a Big to Help a Little
Obviously, I’m a huge advocate for becoming a mentor.
I’ve written quite a bit in this BIGblog about what the experience has meant to me.
But I also understand something.
Not everybody can become a Big right now.
Maybe you don’t have the time.
Maybe your family or work situation doesn’t allow for another commitment.
Maybe you’re not sure mentoring is right for you.
Maybe you’re just not ready.
That’s okay.
Being a Big is a commitment, and I’d much rather someone recognize that before signing up than make a promise to a young person they aren’t prepared to keep.
But not being able to become a mentor doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the mission.
And if you’re a Florida driver…
BBBS Florida says proceeds from the specialty plate help support one-to-one mentoring throughout the state, including recruiting and training mentors and expanding access to mentoring services.
You’re already going to drive the car.
Why not let it do a little good while you’re at it?
It Might Even Start a Conversation
That’s another thing I like about specialty plates.
People notice them.
I’ve had plenty of conversations over the years that started because somebody noticed something on my car.
Usually they’re asking about the Mustang.
Sometimes it’s a modification.
Sometimes it’s the color.
Sometimes it’s the plate.
And when somebody asks what BE BIG means, they’ve given me an opening to talk about something much more important than horsepower.
I can tell them about Big Brothers Big Sisters.
I can tell them what being a mentor has meant to me.
I can tell them about the kids waiting for someone to show up.
And I can tell them something I’ve learned after years of mentoring:
You just have to be willing to consistently show up.
That’s a pretty good conversation to have because of a license plate.
One Small Decision, Mile After Mile
I originally put the plate on my car because I wanted to support an organization and a mission I believe in.
Today, when I look at it, I see something different.
I see years of memories.
I see two Littles who have been part of my life.
I see car rides.
Conversations.
Laughter.
Lessons.
Frustrations.
Proud moments.
And a whole lot of growing up.
Some of it theirs.
Some of it mine.
So yes, it’s a license plate.
But it’s also a donation.
It’s a conversation starter.
It’s a tiny billboard traveling down Florida highways.
And every once in a while, I wonder about the person sitting behind me at a traffic light.
Maybe they’ll look at the plate.
Maybe they’ll notice those two words.
Maybe they’ll wonder:
If that happens, I’d say that little piece of metal on the back of my Mustang is doing its job.
Put Your Plate to Work
If you’re a registered Florida vehicle owner, you can request the Big Brothers Big Sisters Florida specialty license plate through a county Tax Collector’s office. Many counties also offer online specialty-plate ordering.
And here’s something you may not realize:
You don’t have to wait until your registration renewal to switch.
BBBS says you can change to the specialty plate at any time.
Get the Big Brothers Big Sisters Florida Specialty License Plate
Already have one?
Take a picture and share it using #Driving4Potential. BBBS would love to see where your plate is carrying the message.
And if you’re one of my fellow car people, here’s my challenge:
We’ve spent more than $25 on things for our cars that made absolutely no difference whatsoever.
Drive something you love.
Support something that matters.
And maybe help somebody else discover what those two little words can mean.
BE BIG.
What is the Big Brothers Big Sisters Specialty Plate?
Florida drivers can choose the Big Brothers Big Sisters specialty plate to help support mentoring programs across the state. Learn more about the BBBS Florida specialty plate.