by Dennis Dalman
When people ask “Big Brother” Nathan Molitor what he and “Little Brother” Justin like to do when they get together, Molitor laughs because the answer is so easy.
“We like to have fun!” Molitor always says.
Molitor, who lives in St. Joseph, is being honored as Minnesota Big Brother of the Year for 2023 by the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. He is one of three central Minnesota mentors to be honored statewide. The other two are Matthew Rothfork, Foley High School senior, who is the High School Big Brother of the Year; and Olivia Bauerly, St. Cloud Cathedral High School senior, who was named the Minnesota High School Big Sister of the Year.
The three winners were selected from among nominees by a group of mentors from Central Minnesota, Twin Cities and Southern Minnesota BBBS (Big Brothers Big Sisters) agencies. BBBS is an agency that matches up mentors, dubbed “Bigs,” with young mentee – “Littles.” The goal is to help mentees adjust and adapt to life successfully while learning skills and building confidence through socialization activities. Very often, the mentors, too, broaden their horizons, thanks to the mentees.
This marks the second year in a row that central Minnesotans were named as High School Big Sister and High School Big Brother of the Year.
As the statewide winner, Molitor is also eligible for the National Big Brother of the Year, to be announced sometime this summer.
In an interview with the Newsleader, Molitor said he learned he’d won the honor during a phone call with his mentee, Justin, a teenage student who lives in Sartell. What made the award most special, he said, is Justin had nominated him and was the first to be notified of the honor. Molitor credits Justin for the award, too, because Justin contributes so much to the friendship the two have cultivated.
Molitor decided to join BBBS five years ago because he was always so appreciative of the “great mentors” in his own life.
“So I decided I wanted to be a mentor for somebody else,” he said.
He and Justin were matched five years ago, and it’s been a fun and happy match ever since, with the two “buddies” meeting once a week and sometimes once every two weeks, depending on their busy schedules.
Raised in Rockville, Molitor graduated from St. Cloud Tech High School in 2011, then earned a degree in business administration (specialty in international business) with a minor in Spanish from Bemidji State University. He is employed by the Dustin Upgren State Farm Insurance Agency in Cold Spring. He purchased a house in St. Joseph in January 2016.
What does Molitor enjoy most in his friendship with Justin?
“It’s endless,” he said. “We love fishing, watching movies, playing disc golf, cooking together, doing acts of kindness for other people.”
Justin loves that aspect of the BBBS program.
“He (Molitor) teaches me new things and how to care for other people even if you don’t know them. It’s fun to meet new people. What I like best about Nate is he teaches me new things and he’s eager to help me learn new things and always helps me.”
One of those new things was a shopping trip followed by an outdoor barbecue-grilling session. At the grocery store, Molitor gave Justin tips on how to “budget-shop,” then they returned home with the foods and fired up the grill.
“I showed Justin how to grill steaks, which we ate with grilled corn on the cob,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Sometimes, when they have nothing special planned, they decide just to hang out and wing it. One summer day, Molitor showed Justin the best way to mow a lawn and use lawn tools.
They have also gone to Valley Fair, taken hikes in the woods near St. John’s University, watched movies in theaters and sometimes view movies while enjoying big bowls of popcorn in the living room.
Another favorite fun activity is the annual ice-fishing tournament on Kraemer Lake near St. Joseph. Three years ago it was quite the thrill when Justin won a first-place award for a sunfish he caught.
Justin and Nate share one trait in common: helping others, doing acts of kindness.
“One of the things I like so much about Justin is he really cares about others; he has a sense of kindness and compassion,” Molitor said.
In the past five years, the two of them raised close to $1,500 for good causes. One time they both painted “Positivity Rocks” and sold them, with all the proceeds going to a good cause.
They also like to participate in the “Let the Sunshine Run” in Cold Spring. It’s an annual run-walk in Cold Spring to raise money for mental-health research and to create a place where people can celebrate the lives of loved ones they’ve lost.
Molitor and Justin are never at a loss for things to do; they’re never bored; they always find things to do that are interesting, connective and fun.
Justin said he recommends BBBS because it’s a great way to learn new things, to meet lots of people, to help them and to learn from them.
Molitor said he agrees. He strongly encourages others (Bigs and Littles) to enroll in the program.
To learn more about the St. Cloud-based Central Minnesota BBBS agency and how to join, google its webpage at “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota.”
Big Brother mentor, Nathan Molitor, is being honored as Minnesota Big Brother of the Year for 2023. His mentee Little Brother, Justin (front) is a student who lives in Sartell.
Nathan Molitor of St. Joseph (right), who is Minnesota Big Brother of the Year, enjoys a refreshment with his Little Brother, Justin, of Sartell, at The Local Blend coffee shop/restaurant in downtown St. Joseph.
