Alice Young and Melita Griffis share a sisterly bond. The women, now lifelong friends, were brought together not by blood relation -- but by an organization.

  • Alice Young founded Big Sisters Pinellas 48 years ago
  • Young remains close to her first "sister," Melita Griffis
  • Young encouraged Griffis to go to college, make a career

"Sweet Alice” as she’s affectionately known, founded Big Sisters of Pinellas County 48 years ago. As the first big sister, Alice was matched with then 5-year-old Melita Griffs.

"My mother was always in and out of the hospital, always very ill and we lived very poorly," said Griffis.

The girls spent a lot of time together.

"Went to Clearwater Mall, I bought her two outfits," said Young of their first meeting. "I got her a jeans outfit and a dress."

"Alice took me to just about every attraction in the state, I've been either once or twice," said Griffis.

The time spent together went beyond fun outings -- they made a connection.

"I valued our relationship as a child," said Griffis.

The girls grew closer over the years. Griffis looked up to her big sister and welcomed her guidance.

"'Melita, you've got to make a career of some sort, you've got to have college,'" said Griffis of Alice’s encouragement to seek a career.

The two continued to stay connected into adulthood.

"I was there when she got married, I was there when she had her first baby, I was there when she graduated from college," said Young.

The two women have shared life’s most exciting and difficult moments. Theirs was a match where mentoring went from volunteering a few hours a week to a meaningful, lifetime relationship.

"I think of her as my sister, my sister in my heart she is my sister, she is my family," said Griffis.

"She means the world to me, she's my life,” said Young. “I would do anything in the world for this little girl, but she's not a little girl anymore. She's a woman, but I would do anything and I know she would for me, so that's how close we are."

To volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, visit their website and click on 'Volunteer.'