Sister act

Tariq Malik

Korina Petrozzi now has the sister she never had as a child.

The 31-year-old Surf City resident has been named California’s 2000

Big Sister of the Year for her commitment and active volunteer work in

the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County, an agency geared toward

providing mentors for at-risk youth.

“I’m very flattered that they would choose me,” Petrozzi said. “I

really think that my ‘Little’ and I have one of the ideal relationships

in the program.”

Petrozzi has served as a volunteer for four years, mentoring for two

“Littles,” or girls. Her latest “Little” is 13-year-old Alejandra Estrada

of Garden Grove. The pair have been together for more than three years.

“I’m very happy that she got picked as the best, and what’s even nicer

is she’s the best Big Sister I could have,” Alejandra said. “When I think

of the whole state and imagine how many other Big Sisters there are, I

feel special.”

In Orange County alone, there are about 500 pairs of adults and

children matched according to similar interests. The pairs spend between

three and six hours a week together.

According to the county’s Tustin-based chapter, Petrozzi was nominated

because she has readily made herself available for the agency, and

because of the strong rapport she’s built up with Alejandra.

“Their relationship is unique I think,” said Jolene Felkner, a chapter

spokeswoman. “They take the ‘sister’ part of Big Sister seriously.”

So seriously, in fact, that Petrozzi chose Alejandra as her junior

maid of honor when she married her husband Chris in 1999.

Mary Fitzgerald, Petrozzi’s mother, said her daughter has always been

interested in working with children.

“She was the neighborhood baby sitter and always enjoyed working with

young people,” she said. ‘I’m extremely proud of her.”

Petrozzi added that her interest in Big Brothers/Big Sisters was

kindled as a teenager. However, she waited until she was old enough, and

her schedule was clear enough, before she signed up for the program.

Alejandra began searching for a big sister when she was 10 because the

work and school schedules of her parents and older sibling left her alone

most afternoons. She added that her parents love Petrozzi and are happy

that their daughter has a role model outside of school and the home.

Alejandra has had an equal affect on Petrozzi.

“You get super attached to the Littles,” Petrozzi said, adding that

she cried when her first Little Sister moved out of state eight months

into their relationship. “I never realized how much of void this program

fulfilled in me as I relate to the community around me.”