UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 3, Page 3
September 19, 1991
Employees get involved with United Way agencies

     Mike Cataldi, 17, remembers that day seven years ago when he
first met his "big brother," William H. (Bill) Clark Jr., alumni
associate in the Office of Alumni Relations.
     "I was kinda scared. This stranger was going to be in my life
all of a sudden," Cataldi said. But instead of someone to fear,
Cataldi found in Clark a wonderful friend, mentor and confidant.
     Over the years, the two have formed a lasting friendship and
have enjoyed such activities as bowling, an annual outing to a
Phillies game, football and basketball games at the University, a
memorable and slightly embarrassing attempt at ice skating and many
official Big Brothers/Big Sisters events. Clark also has helped
Cataldi use the resources of the Morris Library for school
projects.
     Cataldi, whose father is deceased, said his mother wanted to
get him into the Big Brothers program when he was 7. He was on a
waiting list for over two years but, finally, when he was l0 years
old, he was matched with Clark.
     In those early years, the two got together every Sunday
afternoon. As Cataldi has gotten older-he is a junior at McKean
High School-and assumed a part-time job, he and Clark see less of
each other but have remained close.
     Clark was single when he became Cataldi's big brother and, as
a testament to their friendship, asked Mike to take part in his
wedding.
     His wife, Jenny, was quick to accept Mike as part of her
husband's life and now all three enjoy activities like white-water
rafting together.
     In turn, Clark said, "Mike's family has really accepted Jenny
and me. We enjoy visiting them, especially at Christmastime. We
also go over each year in the summer for Mike's birthday."
     Clark said he got involved in Big Brothers because he was
"looking for some activity in the community that would make
constructive use of my time. I wanted a volunteer activity that
could be ongoing and something that would have flexible hours."
     The benefit-knowing Mike-has brought him "a strong friendship
that I'm sure will always continue."
     For his part, Mike said being Clark's little brother "gave me
something to look forward to, kept me from getting into trouble,
enabled me to do a lot of things I wouldn't have gotten to do and
gave me a friend."
                                        - Beth Thomas
Editor's note: The University United Way Campaign will be conducted
from Oct. 14-25. For more information, call Joyce Dennis at
451-2171.