Strengthening Our Communities
2017 Annual Report | July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017
A Story of the Power of Relationships Built Through Bigs in BlueSM
Big Brother Luq is a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department. When he and other leaders in the police department were looking for a way to get more involved in the community, they spoke to officers who were Bigs through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, and they decided to become part of Bigs in Blue, the national Big Brothers Big Sisters initiative to recruit police as mentors. In early 2017, the department formally partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and, to raise awareness, with the Los Angeles Rams.
To recruit other officers, Luq attends early-morning roll calls with representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and talks to fellow officers about the impact volunteering can have on a young person and on the community.
“From what I see, Bigs in Blue, police mentoring kids, it’s not a solution, it’s the only solution to all of the issues we are having with the community,” he says.
Luq also tells other officers about his experience with his Little Brother, Theo, who he has been matched with for a year. Theo likes sports and video games, and he is thoughtful and smart. “He almost has an old soul,” Luq says. “He is more aware of what is going on than you might think.”
A key moment in their mentoring relationship came at a particularly sad time for Theo. He was home with his grandmother and older brother when his grandmother passed away. Luq attended her funeral to support Theo.
“All of the people at this funeral were from the worst parts of Los Angeles,” Luq says. “They all knew I was a police officer, and they were shocked to see me there.”
Theo had not yet grasped that his grandmother was gone forever. Theo’s uncles and cousins watched the sergeant support Theo. “They see me, and they’re thinking, he’s taking time out to be with my nephew, or my cousin. He must be all right. That’s where the respect comes from,” Luq says.
Luq is a consistent presence in Theo’s life, cheering him on at his football games, teaching him to ride a bike, and attending school events when his mom can’t make it. He wants more officers to volunteer to become mentors to kids like Theo.
“I truly believe that when we talk about community engagement,” Luq says, “this is the best form of community engagement out there.”
Big Brother Luq and Little Brother Theo
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles
In 2016, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America launched Bigs in Blue as a national initiative. With support from many individual donors and WellCare, the first Corporate Partner to support Bigs in Blue, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America awarded grants to Affiliates to start or expand Bigs in Blue.
The idea of matching police officers with youth in the communities they serve resonated around the country, and the “TODAY” show featured a Bigs in Blue match from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia, Big Brother Ryan and Little Brother Robert. To learn more about Bigs in Blue or to watch Ryan and Robert’s story, visit BigsinBlue.org.
Bigs in Blue by the Numbers
66
New Affiliate Bigs in Blue programs launched in the past year.
,000
784
$
Grant funding BBBSA awarded to Affiliates starting or expanding Bigs in Blue programs.
705
Current Bigs in Blue matches.
National Board of Directors
Rudy J. Baldoni
National Board Chair
Chairman & CEO
Newport Investment Associates
Ken Burdick
National Vice Chair
CEO, WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Leonard A. Bernstein, Esq.
National Board Secretary
Partner, Reed Smith, LLP
Emily Chen Carrera
National Board Treasurer
Private Wealth Real Estate
Specialist & Chief of Research
Olshan Realty, Inc.
Liz Smith
Immediate Past National Board Chair
Chairman & CEO, Bloomin’ Brands
Guy Adami
Director, Policy Advocacy
CNBC’s “Fast Money”
Major General (Retired)
Wallace C. Arnold
Independent Senior Consultant
Alan J. Bernon
Founding Partner
Sequel Holdings, L.P.
Ernest Greer
Co-President
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
William “Bill” Hanna
President, Retired
Koch Industries, Inc.
Governor Bob Martinez
Senior Policy Advisor
Holland & Knight, LLP
Shannon Mattingly
Strategic Partner Manager
Alice Norsworthy
Chief Marketing Officer
Universal Parks and Resorts
Tom O’Brien
Senior Vice President, CBRE
Gregory R. Page
Retired Chairman & CEO
Cargill, Inc.
Steven Wheeler
CEO, Centurion, LLC
President & COO
MHM Services, Inc.
Pam Iorio
President & CEO, BBBSA
BBBSA National Board of Directors Chairman Rudy Baldoni
and BBBSA President and CEO Pam Iorio at the
2017 BBBSA National Conference
Message from National Board of Directors Chair
One of the major projects this past year has been the development of a five-year strategic plan. We have listened to our local Affiliate leaders and partners to develop a plan that can build a strong foundation for growth. Our National Board is committed to supporting our Affiliates across the nation so they can reach more children with a lasting impact.
We know from decades of experience that Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based, one-to-one mentoring model works. The children we serve perform better in school and avoid risky behaviors that often derail young people from following productive paths in life.
We also know that we are capable of having an even greater impact in the communities we serve. Almost every local Affiliate across the country has a list of children waiting to be matched. But there is a cost to recruiting, screening, and training volunteers, and a cost to supporting these mentoring relationships with highly trained staff. The biggest challenge our Affiliates face is getting the funding to serve the children who are eagerly waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister.
Our five-year strategic plan, called Bigger Impact 2022, will address our Federation’s foundational needs, including new, innovative technology, branding and marketing, and updated training. It is an aggressive plan to innovate, engage, and strengthen our organization to increase the number of children served, with a greater impact on each child.
I want to thank the National Board members, Affiliate leaders, and Big Brothers Big Sisters partners for helping our National Office produce this plan. Through an honest and open dialogue, we were able to pinpoint areas needing improvement and develop a strategy to move forward. Thank you for your support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America – we have exciting and productive years ahead as we give more children brighter futures and strengthen communities!
Rudy J. Baldoni, National Board Chair
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Newport Investment Associates
Message from BBBSA President and CEO
One highlight of this past fiscal year is our Bigs in Blue initiative, which began as a grassroots effort in local Big Brothers Big Sisters communities and connects law enforcement officials with the children they serve through one-to-one mentoring relationships. As police and community relations became increasingly strained in many parts of our country, we saw this program as a way to address a national problem – one Big and one Little at a time.
One year later, through the generous support of individuals and companies nationwide, Bigs in Blue has expanded to 85 communities and more than 700 matches. It is a program poised for even greater growth, as the majority of our Affiliates are eager to bring Bigs in Blue to their communities.
Bigs in Blue is just one example of how Big Brothers Big Sisters’ one-to-one mentoring changes lives and strengthens communities. In all 50 states, in big cities and small towns, volunteer Bigs give of themselves to guide young people to better futures.
Our annual report highlights the progress we have made in 2016/2017, with the development of our five-year strategic plan, our innovative programs, and the continued success of our evidence-based one-to-one mentoring model. This work, led by our Affiliate leaders, their staffs and local boards, and our volunteer Bigs, is possible because of generous supporters: individuals, corporations, foundations, and government grants. Thank you for making this past year an incredible time of progress for the children we serve.
Pam Iorio
President & Chief Executive Officer
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Leaders Furthering Our Mission Every Day
Key National Staff
Pam Iorio
President & CEO
Kevin Chapman
Chief of Staff
Jarrod Bell
Chief Technology Officer
Tim Midkiff
Chief Financial Officer
Greg Zweber
Chief Affiliate Officer
Alais Griffin
General Counsel
Charleston Edwards
Vice President, National Events and Corporate Partnerships
Adam Vasallo
Vice President, Fund Development and Marketing
Julie Novak
Vice President, Child Safety
Jennifer Ashbaugh
Director, National Events
Hillary Bardwell
Director, Foundation Grants
Mandy Bisceglia
Director, Affiliate Support
Tanya Gibson
Director, Human Resources
Danielle Long
Director, Finance
Julie Redcay
Director, Federal Grants
Laura Saunders
Director, Compliance
J. Christie Wilson
Director, Training
Nationwide Leadership Council
Local Leaders Representing Our National Federation
Pam Iorio, Chair
President & CEO, BBBSA
Louis “Lou” Vetere, Vice Chair
Board Member,
BBBS of Northern New Jersey
Darcey Palmer-Shultz, Vice Chair
CEO, BBBS of Central Indiana
Hector Batista, CEO,
BBBS of New York City, Inc.
Richard Burke, Jr., Board Member,
BBBS of Ventura County
Matthew DiCicco, Board Member,
BBBS of the Greater Miami Valley, Inc.
Shawan Gabriel, CEO,
BBBS Services, Inc.
Louis Garcia, CEO,
BBBS of Puget Sound
Stephen Koch, CEO,
BBBS of Tampa Bay
Michelle Linville, CEO,
BBBS of North Alabama
Marie Logan, CEO,
BBBS of Tucson
Doug Schenkel, Board Member,
BBBS of Northeast Indiana
Dan Soliday, CEO,
Kansas BBBS
Randall Woods, Board Member,
BBBS of the Sun Coast, Inc.
Geno Zamora, Board Member,
BBBS Mountain Region
A Five-Year Strategic Plan to Innovate, Engage, and Strengthen for Growth in Children Served
Over the past year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and our Federation of nearly 300 Affiliates analyzed the state of our organization and our work.
We found a lot to be proud of, including powerful mentoring relationships, innovative programming, and a deep devotion to the children we serve. Funded by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, this process has resulted in a five-year strategic plan, Bigger Impact 2022.
With an ultimate goal of more children served, with longer match lengths and greater impact on each child, the plan lays the foundation of innovation, engagement, and strengthening for growth.
To view Bigger Impact 2022, visit 2022.bbbs.org.
Strategic Plan Objectives
By innovating, engaging, and strengthening, we will:
Serve more children
Recruit more volunteer Bigs, especially
male volunteers of color
Increase the impact on the children we serve
Increase the efficiency of Affiliate operations
Tell the story of our collective impact
Solidify our role as the premier evidence-based mentoring organization in the nation
Provide funding to help our Affiliates grow
Big Brother of the Year
A Story of an Incredible Role Model
More than 10 years before Terence was named the 2017 Big Brother of the Year, he was a college student volunteering to be a Big. He had been a Little himself, and it left an impression on him. He knew he wanted to give back.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati matched Terence with Little Brother Terrell, who was 11. Terrell’s aunt described her nephew as being
“in a really dark place.”
Terrell’s childhood had been traumatic. He had lost his 3-year-old brother, he was separated from his older brother and baby sister, and both of his parents were incarcerated. He struggled with trust and anger.
“I knew going into it, it was going to be a tough task for me, building that trust with Terrell, letting him know that I’m someone that’s here to stay.”
– Big Brother Terence
Terence and Terrell built their relationship by attending Terence’s sister’s volleyball and basketball games, and they stayed close by sending letters and playing video games online when Terence was deployed to Iraq with the National Guard.
About a year into their match, as Terence and Terrell drove through Cincinnati, they passed a cemetery. “He goes, ‘My brother’s over there, he’s buried over there,’” Terence says. “When I heard that from him, him wanting to share with me, I pulled over to the side of the road and we talked about it.”
Big Brother Terence
“He has helped mold Terrell into a great young man, and has truly become his brother for life.”
– Big Brother Terence
Terrell says being able to open up to Terence, and having him as a role model, has changed his life.
“I promise you, without this program, getting matched with Terence, and my uncle getting involved, I’d be somewhere following the wrong people in the wrong crowd,” Terrell says.
Now, Terrell is focused on his future and following in his Big Brother’s footsteps. He has joined the National Guard and plans to go to college to become a dentist.
At the BBBSA National Conference, he told the crowd that he was also going to be “a Big Brother like Terence and pass it on.”
Big Sister of the Year
A Story of Persistence and Patience
"I will never forget our first match meeting,” Big Sister of the Year Erin says. “She was this tiny little first-grader, really cute.” Noelle was 6 when she became Erin’s Little Sister. Noelle says that when she met Erin, she was so nervous she could barely speak.
Erin suggested that they go for a walk so Noelle could show her around her school. Erin says Noelle “took off like a rocket” because she was so excited to show her Big Sister everything. Despite her shyness, she showed Erin a glimpse of her personality, and they bonded almost instantly.
All through Noelle’s elementary years, Erin came to see her once a week at school. They played Connect 4 and Battleship, read books, and did homework. Through Erin’s consistency, they built a bond that helped Noelle deal with difficulties at home.
“I feel like she’s my best friend, and my sister. Like, a real one.”
– Little Sister Noelle
“When I was 8 years old, there was a lot of change in my family due to my parents’ divorce. When my dad left, I did not hear from him very often, and that was very hard to deal with,” Noelle says.
Noelle’s mom says Erin helped Noelle learn to cope with her dad leaving.
“She stopped talking to everyone, except Erin,” Noelle’s mom says.
“I helped her through this by being a sounding board, allowing her a safe space to talk, to share her feelings, and even draw them out. Sometimes she would shut down, and I would get her to talk,” Erin says.
Big Sister Erin
“Erin exposes Noelle to opportunities and teaching moments that foster Noelle’s self-confidence and show her how to handle difficult situations and decisions.”
– Little Sister Noelle’s mom
When Noelle was in fifth grade, they transitioned to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska’s Community-Based Mentoring Program so they could start doing activities outside the school. They made plans to go to the theater, bake cookies, and visit museums.
“Before I met Erin, my life was crazy, and I never got to get out of the house, except for school,” Noelle says.
With Big Sister Erin, she began to explore her creative side. Noelle is interested in fashion, so Erin got her an art set for designers. Big Sister Erin even put her own shyness aside to walk in a charity fashion show with Noelle to help build her confidence.
“Noelle is also adamant that she will go on to college, she has that in her head, and we talk about it a lot,” Erin says.
Our Corporate Partners
Our Corporate Partners make the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America possible.
Nerium International
Nerium International believes in investing in others, which is what inspired the company to launch Nerium Ripple, a program designed to motivate individuals to take responsibility and collectively change the world. Since becoming a Big Brothers Big Sisters partner in 2012, Nerium International’s efforts to highlight Big Brothers Big Sisters have inspired hundreds of Brand Partners to get involved as Bigs. Through monthly contributions from commission checks, involvement in initiatives such as Bowl for Kids’ Sake, and donations made during the annual Get Real conference, Nerium International has donated more than $5 million to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Nordstrom
In 2014, Nordstrom launched Treasure&Bond, the company’s private label give-back brand, to offer customers great fashion while also enabling them to feel good about their purchase by giving a portion of the sale to nonprofits that empower youth. From February 2016 through January 2017, Nordstrom donated 2.5 percent of Treasure&Bond net sales to Big Brothers Big Sisters, totaling over $700,000, to help local Affiliates and the National Office.
Altria Group
Altria Group is a longstanding supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, giving close to $40 million over the past 20 years. Altria has invested in positive youth development as a way to help address a core business concern: underage tobacco use. Today, Altria invests in three important initiatives: Success360˚, LGBTQ Mentoring Enhancements, and Technology-Enhanced Mentoring (TEM).
For over five years, the Success360˚ program has fortified Big Brothers Big Sisters’ collective impact work within selected Affiliate communities by deepening existing relationships and building new partnerships with youth-serving organizations. These partnerships have enabled Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to more effectively serve youth and their families by taking advantage of community resources.
In 2015, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America made a commitment to more intentionally and appropriately serve LGBTQ youth and mentors. Research on LGBTQ youth consistently demonstrates that they are at high risk of being bullied, harassed, or isolated, and they engage in risky behaviors, like tobacco use, at higher rates than non-LGBTQ youth, and we know our mentoring programs can help. Altria invested in a pilot project to allow Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to develop training and share best practices from Affiliates already serving this vulnerable population and to create additional tools for our Network.
To serve more high school youth, several Big Brothers Big Sisters Affiliates have created TEM programs that combine the effectiveness of the Big Brothers Big Sisters model with the convenience of an online platform. Altria provided funds to help five Affiliates start or grow their TEM programs this past year.
WellCare
In 2017, the WellCare Community Foundation became the first Corporate Partner to support Bigs in Blue. The WellCare Community Foundation, whose mission is to foster and promote the health, well-being, and quality of life for the nation’s most vulnerable populations, committed $250,000 annually over three years to support Bigs in Blue in seven cities. Through Bigs in Blue, local Big Brothers Big Sisters Affiliates recruit law enforcement officers to become mentors to youth who live in the communities they serve.
Beachbody
In a single day, Beachbody met its goal of raising $250,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Each time a customer streamed Beachbody’s “CORE DE FORCE” workout program during a 24-hour “Sneak Peek” on Beachbody On Demand, Beachbody donated $10 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The campaign, “Be a Positive Force,” produced thousands of positive impressions of the Big Brothers Big Sisters brand on social media and spread a wellness message to Littles, emphasizing the importance of exercise, empowerment, self-confidence, and courage. Joel Freeman, a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, is the co-creator of “CORE DE FORCE” and was a speaker at the 2017 BBBSA National Conference.
We would like to thank our Corporate and Community Partners for strengthening our Federation and positively impacting their communities.
Foundation Partners
Our Foundation Partners fund projects that benefit the entire Big Brothers Big Sisters Federation.
Beyond School Walls
Comcast NBCUniversal and the Comcast Foundation have worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters to create the nation’s largest workplace mentoring program: Beyond School Walls (BSW). Through this initiative, more than 400 Comcast NBCUniversal employees serve as Bigs each year, helping their Littles develop skills in digital literacy and experience firsthand what working in a corporate setting is like – and what skills are needed for professional success. Littles are transported to Comcast NBCUniversal offices regularly during the school year to meet with their Bigs and learn about career opportunities. In the 2016-2017 school year, BSW was active in 17 Comcast locations and at many other corporate locations across the country.
Little Brother Keidric and Big Brother Chris from Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest’s Comcast Beyond School Walls program work on a STEM project together.
Strategic Plan and Character
Development Community of Practice
Over the past year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Federation engaged in a rigorous strategic planning process, thanks to the support of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. This strategic plan, called Bigger Impact 2022, will focus on building a strong foundation for increasing the number of children we serve with longer and stronger matches.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has also joined the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation’s Character Development Community of Practice, which connects over 25 youth-serving organizations and leaders from around the country to identify promising practices that build youth character, translate this knowledge into practice, and bring our work in the area of character development to scale. Through the Community of Practice, we have gained key partnerships, improved our work on character and social-emotional learning, and shared our observations and best practices with other youth-serving organizations.
Mentoring for Children from Military Families
The Jack in the Box Foundation continues to partner with several Big Brothers Big Sisters Affiliates to strengthen their local mentoring programs, particularly for children with a parent in the military or deployed overseas. As part of this program, Affiliates also recruit members of the military community to become Bigs.
Big Sister Sarah and Little Sister Krystle, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado match funded by Jack in the Box, created these paintings highlighting their shared love of hiking and the outdoors.
Youth Outcomes Survey
Continued financial support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation has allowed Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to launch a second pilot project of the revised Youth Outcomes Survey (YOS), the survey tool that Affiliates use to evaluate youth outcomes. With feedback from the original three pilot sites, the National Office and its team of youth mentoring experts refined the YOS and trained staff at 10 additional pilot sites. The new YOS will still track scholastic competence, educational expectations, attitudes toward high-risk behavior, and other key outcome areas, but will have additional measures proven to be affected by one-to-one mentoring. We have designed a complementary Child Outcomes Survey (COS) for younger children. This tool will allow our Affiliates to capture true baseline scores for the youngest children in our program, thereby enabling us to demonstrate our impact on a greater number of Littles. A full pilot of the COS is scheduled to begin in 2018.
Longitudinal Study
The University of Illinois at Chicago, through funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, has contracted with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to participate in a randomized control trial (RCT) designed to study the effects of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Mentoring Program on youth outcomes, particularly for crime and delinquency prevention. This study will rigorously test the Community-Based model through a longitudinal study design with approximately 2,500 youth (ages 10 and older) at 16 participating Affiliates. Preliminary results will be available in 2021.
Child Safety
Child safety is Big Brothers Big Sisters’ top priority. We are constantly reviewing best practices and industry guidelines to improve the safety of our programs. The Oak Foundation has been our partner in this by funding the creation of a child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention training for parents of our Littles. The training has given pilot sites an important and innovative opportunity to engage parents in our work. This fiscal year, more than 9,200 Affiliate staff members and volunteer Bigs participated in trainings with a strong emphasis on child safety.
Federal Grant Programs
Big Brothers Big Sisters is appreciative of funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), which allows us to expand the number of children served by Affiliates across the country. During the reporting period for our most recent grant from OJJDP:
5
589
,
additional youth were served by Big Brothers Big Sisters programs
>
99
%
of youth who had previously been involved with the juvenile justice system did not commit another crime
92
49
.
%
of youth increased social competence
Affiliate Highlight: Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters and Federal Grant Funding from OJJDP
Even though Little Sister Lilley has four biological sisters, she begged her mom for a Big Sister. Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters matched her with Big Sister Ariel, and their match is funded by the OJJDP grant.
Signing Lilley up to be a Little Sister was an easy decision, Lilley’s mom says. Because she was raising her five girls as a single parent, she had little time to spend with Lilley one on one. Because of her match with Ariel, Lilley has started to embrace her individuality and become more generous and patient with her sisters.
Ariel is seeing her guidance pay off. When they were first matched, Lilley was quiet and hesitant. Now, Lilley not only stands up for herself, she also stands up for others.
Little Sister Lilley and Big Sister Ariel – Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters
Affiliate Program Innovation
Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County: Chaldean Refugee Program
Many Big Brothers Big Sisters Affiliates have responded to the needs of their communities by creating mentoring programs for teens and youth from refugee families. Refugee youth need the guidance of a caring adult who can expose them to new opportunities, help them plan for their future, and help them adjust to life in the United States. This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County worked with social workers and community members to launch a program for Chaldean refugees, Christians fleeing intense persecution in Iraq. The program is called “Ayana,” which means “help” in Arabic.
Big Brother Jason’s parents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s, and he grew up in a Chaldean community in San Diego. Jason was the program’s first Big Brother.
“I feel like these kids can accomplish so much if they have confidence in themselves, if people give them confidence.”
– Big Brother Jason
Big Brother Jason and Little Brother Yousif
–Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County
Jason says he feels a responsibility to help kids in his community, and to help his 15-year-old Little Brother, Yousif, see that he can succeed in America. A structural engineer in San Diego, Jason credits his success to a friend who recognized his math aptitude and guided him into engineering. “My dad worked a lot, and he didn’t understand how it worked here, how AP classes worked, how to apply for college, how to get scholarships,” Jason says. “My friend made me aware of what’s around me and what life has to offer me.”
Now, Jason will help Little Brother Yousif with those tasks. “We have a responsibility to help these refugees more than anybody,” Jason says. “If we can give them some sort of guidance and tell them that they can do it, they can be successful.”
Affiliate Program Innovation
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound Launches MentorU, Using Technology-Enhanced Mentoring to Help High Schoolers Preparing for College
Technology-Enhanced Mentoring (TEM) combines the effectiveness of the Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring model with the convenience of modern technology to create a program ideal for today’s busy mentor.
Nineteen Big Brothers Big Sisters Affiliates currently use TEM to engage more high school students, particularly those who are at risk of not graduating high school and those who are the first in their families to go to college.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound’s MentorU provides opportunities and resources for high school students to explore career paths, prepare for college, and plan for their future. The MentorU curriculum is grounded in social-emotional learning, growth mindset, and career-connectedness philosophies that blend relationship building with career exploration.
In a classroom setting, Big Brothers Big Sisters staff administer a curriculum that engages Bigs and Littles through a secure online platform and sparks discussions about career, college, and life. Each match also meets in person, one on one, every month at the high school and participates in guided activities led by Big Brothers Big Sisters in partnership with classroom teachers.
The flexibility of the blended model of in-person and online engagement attracts mentors who work in professional settings.
Big Brother Rob is the CEO of Pacific Market International, the parent company of the Stanley, Aladdin, and Migo brands. Rob was inspired to become a Big Brother, and MentorU allowed him to connect directly with a student in need while still being able to travel the world to lead his business.
When Big Brother Rob and Little Brother Long first met, Long was apprehensive. He asked a lot of questions. “What could I possibly have in common with a CEO? Does that guy even want to hang out with me?”
Throughout his freshman year, Long struggled with depression. He often skipped school, and he failed several classes. Rob was determined to make a positive impact on Long’s life, so he stuck by his side – just like Long had stuck by getting to know Rob.
In the second year of their match, Long earned straight A’s and had perfect attendance. He credits his turnaround to the positive impact of having Rob in his life.
At the end of Long’s 10th grade year, Big Brothers Big Sisters offered a scholarship opportunity for Littles to take a three-week backpacking trip with the Olympic Marine Wildlife Leadership Camp. Rob thought this would be a perfect trip for Long, as he aspires to become a marine biologist. Long was reluctant, but Rob offered encouragement (and camping gear), and Long agreed to go.
Long embarked on an adventure unlike anything he had ever experienced. On the first day of the new school year, he thanked Rob for his encouragement and said the trip was one of the best things he’s ever done.
Little Brother Khalel and Big Sister Sarah
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound
Little Brother Long and Big Brother Rob
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound
Technology-Enhanced Mentoring (TEM)
During the 2015-2016 school year:
2
,
600
students participated in BBBS TEM programs
19
BBBS Affiliates administered TEM programs
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, where Little Brother Long is matched with Big Brother Rob:
90
%
of MentorU students report
an increase in peer acceptance
91
%
report an increase in their grades
Current Big Brothers Big Sisters
TEM Platforms:
iMentor
iCouldBe
MentorU (on the Chronus platform)
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Affiliates Across the Country
Our Affiliates positively impact their communities by creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships between caring adult volunteers and youth.
Alaska
Greater Birmingham
Morgan County
North Alabama
Northeast Alabama
Shoals
South Alabama
West Alabama
Central Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas
Central Arizona
Flagstaff
Tucson
Yavapai
Bay Area
Catholic
Central California
Desert
El Dorado County
Greater Los Angeles
Greater Sacramento Area
Jewish BBBS Association of Los Angeles County
Nevada County
North Coast
Orange County
San Diego County
San Luis Obispo County
Santa Barbara County
Santa Cruz County
Ventura County
Colorado
Southwest Colorado
Nutmeg
Southwestern Connecticut
National Capital Area
Delaware
Big Bend
Broward County
Central Florida
Miami
Northeast Florida
Northwest Florida
Palm Beach & Martin Counties
St. Johns County
St. Lucie, Indian River & Okeechobee Counties
Sun Coast
Tampa Bay
Georgia
Chattahoochee Valley
Heart of Georgia
Metro Atlanta
Northwest Georgia Mountains
Guam
Hawaii
Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa
Central Iowa
Clinton
Heart of Iowa
Johnson County
Mississippi Valley
Muscatine County
Northeast Iowa
Siouxland
Southeast Idaho
Southwest Idaho
Central Illinois
DeKalb County
Heart of Illinois
Illinois Capital Region
McHenry County
Metropolitan Chicago
Mid-Illinois
Northwest Illinois
Richland County
Southwestern Illinois
Vermilion County
West Central Illinois
Will & Grundy Counties
Bartholomew County
Cass County
Central Indiana
Decatur County
Delaware County
Elkhart County
Greater Lafayette
Henry County
Jefferson County
Northeast Indiana
Ohio Valley
South Central Indiana
Southeast Indiana
St. Joseph County
Wabash Valley
Youth Service Bureau La Porte County
Finney & Kearny Counties
Flint Hills
Kansas
Salina
Bluegrass
Kentuckiana
Madisonville-Hopkins County
South Central Kentucky
Acadiana
Northeast Louisiana
Southwest Louisiana
Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
Central Mass/Metrowest
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Jewish BBBS of Greater Boston
Lowell
Massachusetts Bay
Old Colony Y
Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y
Eastern Shore
Washington County, Maryland
A Community of Caring
Bay Area
Berrien & Cass
Gratiot & Montcalm Counties
Greater Flint
Great Lakes Bay Region
Jackson County
Lakeshore
Livingston County
Marquette & Alger Counties
Metropolitan Detroit
Michigan Capital Region
Mid-Michigan
Northwestern Michigan
Washtenaw County
Western Upper Peninsula
Central Minnesota
Greater Twin Cities
Southern Minnesota
Central Missouri
Eastern Missouri
Greater Kansas City
Jasper & Newton Counties
Missouri Valley
Ozarks
Mississippi
Butte-Silver Bow
Flathead County
Gallatin County
Helena & Great Falls
Missoula
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2017 BBBSA National Conference in San Diego, California
Nonprofit AF” author and Rainier Valley Corps Executive Director Vu Le speaks to attendees at the 2017 BBBSA National Conference.
Hall of Fame Cornerback Darrell Green speaks to attendees at the 2017 BBBSA National Conference.
Nearly 1,000 Affiliate leaders, corporate and community partners, and mentoring experts came together in San Diego to learn, network, and celebrate at the 2017 BBBSA National Conference.
Vu Le, the executive director of Seattle-based nonprofit Rainier Valley Corps and author of the blog “Nonprofit AF,” was a conference keynote speaker. Le’s humorous keynote speech touched on the life of a nonprofit leader and encouraged the Big Brothers Big Sisters audience to think deeply about their roles in their communities.
“You are lifting up communities, you are saving lives, you are building community, you are helping so many people, you are building relationships, you are creating the kind of society we all deserve here, you are fighting injustice.”
– Vu Le
Hall-of-Famer Darrell Green works with youth through a partnership between Centene Corporation and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a keynote speaker, he spoke to BBBSA National Conference attendees about setting a good example for youth and leading “right now” and every day.
San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman high-fives Little Brother Olegs, whose Big Brother is a San Diego police officer.
Bigs in Blue Day in San Diego
To celebrate the launch of San Diego’s Bigs in Blue program, the Mayor of San Diego issued a proclamation to celebrate June 27 as “Bigs in Blue Day” in the city. During the BBBSA National Conference, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America awarded Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County a $50,000 Bigs in Blue grant. At the press conference, Sergeant Geanie Franco, a Big Sister, spoke about the importance of mentoring teens and guiding them to a bright future.
Ernesto Arredondo, Wells Fargo Area President – San Diego Region; Brett Stapleton, ESET VP of Finance; and Rich Yousko, BBBS of San Diego County Board Chair, join BBBSA President and CEO Pam Iorio to present a check to BBBS of San Diego County to launch its Bigs in Blue program.
Celebrating Bigs in Blue With the San Diego Padres
On Bigs in Blue Day, the San Diego Padres donated tickets so BBBSA National Conference attendees could see the Padres take on the Atlanta Braves and watch Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and CEO Pam Iorio throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Bigs in Blue Bigs and Littles, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, and San Diego Padres Owner and Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County Board Member Tom Seidler were among those gathered on the field to celebrate the launch of Bigs in Blue in San Diego.
Pam Iorio and Liz Smith with Little Sister Shayna
Little Sister Shayna Wins Elizabeth A. Smith “Little” Leadership Scholarship
When Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Board Member Liz Smith completed her two-year term as Board Chair in 2016, the National Board created a scholarship to honor her extraordinary leadership. Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America will award a scholarship to a Little in the Network who demonstrates leadership qualities.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America awarded the 2017 Elizabeth A. Smith “Little” Leadership Scholarship to Shayna from Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Los Angeles. Shayna now attends the University of California at Los Angeles. In college, Shayna is highly involved in extracurricular activities and still keeps in touch with her Big Sister.
Konrad Reuland’s parents, Mary and Ralf Reuland, with Little Brother J.J.
Little Brother J.J. Awarded Konrad A. Reuland “Little” Endowed Scholarship
In 2016, former NFL tight end Konrad Reuland passed away of a brain aneurysm at age 29. His family knew immediately that they wanted to honor his legacy by helping youth, because throughout his life, Konrad was dedicated to mentoring and helping youth reach their goals.
To honor Konrad, his family and friends established the Konrad A. Reuland “Little” Endowed Scholarship through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Each year, proceeds from this fund will be awarded to a Little Brother in the Network who is interested in playing football and attending college.
This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America awarded the Konrad A. Reuland “Little” Endowed Scholarship to Jonathan “J.J.” from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, who was captain of his high school football team and was matched with Big Brother Sean for more than 10 years.
Agency and Board of the Year
There are nearly 300 agencies in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Federation. These agencies go above and beyond to fulfill the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters and meet the needs of their communities. Each year, we recognize agencies and Boards that have met key revenue and service goals.
Agencies of the Year
Small-Mid Agency Alliance
Agency of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa
Mid-Large Agency Alliance
Agency of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands
Large Agency Alliance
Agency of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City
Boards of the Year
Small-Mid Agency Alliance
Boards of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lehigh Valley
Mid-Large Agency Alliance
Boards of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana
Large Agency Alliance
Boards of the Year
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas
Corporate and Individual Awards
Each year, we honor the outstanding corporate and community partners and individuals who champion our cause and further our mission across the country.
President’s Award
Jack in the Box
Charles G. Berwind
Lifetime Achievement Award
Kate Snow
Chairman’s Award
ALEX AND ANI
Community Impact Award
The 250 Club
Enterprise Award
Savers
Common Good Award
Hill Impact
NBC Nightly News anchor and Big Sister Kate Snow accepts the Charles G. Berwind Lifetime Achievement Award.
Our Generous Supporters
Download 2017 Donor List
2017 Financial Stewardship
Download 2017 Financial Summary
2017 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Annual Report
Download 2017 BBBSA Annual Report
© 2018 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Serving America's Youth Since 1904
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