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Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the nation’s most experienced mentoring organization is now providing a new podcast series to help parents and mentors prevent youth from falling victim to the opioid crisis. The national Mentoring Youth Impacted by Opioids (MYIO) grant, one-to-one mentoring program, pairs mentors (called ‘Bigs’) with youth, aged 9 to young 17 (called ‘Littles’). Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, and improved relationships. Parents/guardians and mentors will have access to the new Opioid Abuse Prevention Podcast Series beginning in October, which is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

The 10-episode podcast series will feature experts from Caron Treatment Centers, Tower Health and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Topics include: The Opioid Epidemic—Where it Stands; Thriving Despite Trauma–Practical Strategies for Instilling Resiliency in Youth; and

The Importance of a Positive Peer Culture in Opioid Abuse Prevention.

When comparing Big Brothers Big Sisters Risk and Protective Inventory (RPI) data to national data, parents who have children enrolled in a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program report that 28% have one or more family members who has a problem with alcoholism or drug use, compared to 8% children nationally.

The goal of the podcast series is to decrease the likelihood that youth will engage in opioid or illicit substance use and provide support to those who are impacted by personal or family-member opioid abuse.

“We know the strength of our mentoring program relies not only on the connection between the Big and the Little, but the support from the parent or guardian, too.” said Pam Iorio, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “Whenever we can offer an extra layer of guidance or additional resources to our families, we can play a role in that young person’s success.”

“Tragically, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to even more families being affected by opioid use disorder,” said Tammy Granger, Vice President of Education at Caron Treatment Centers. “That’s why it’s more critical than ever that parents, caregivers, and mentors are educated about the disease of addiction and empowered to support the well-being of their loved ones and ‘Littles’ during these challenging times.”

This podcast series is funded by the Mentoring Youth Impacted by Opioids (MYIO) grant #2018-JU-FX-0023 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this podcast, (including, without limitation, its content, policies, and any services or tools provided).

The series will be available to the 236 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country. Click here to listen to one of the podcast episodes, Thriving Despite Trauma—Practical Strategies for Instilling Resiliency in Youth.

Karma Water is proud to announce a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of
America (BBBSA) to support their mission of empowering children to live up to their full potential through mentorship.
Karma Water believes in the mantra that what we do today will affect tomorrow, including paying it forward. Beginning
in September 2020, Karma pledges to donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters to enhance their mission of creating and
supporting one-to-one mentorship relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’
evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of
risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships. Youth in the program, called
‘Littles’, are paired with caring adult mentors, called ‘Bigs’. Typically, Bigs and Littles spend time in the community
enjoying free, low-cost activities. But with physical distancing guidelines in place, Bigs and Littles are learning to adapt
using technology, communicating through video calls or even playing games online. Through this new partnership,
Karma Water and Big Brothers Big Sisters will encourage society to ‘do good’, through the power of co-branded
storytelling on social media.
“We are honored to partner with an organization that promotes positive change through mentorship. Helping to improve
the lives of children should unite us all,” explains CJ Rapp, Karma CEO. “We’ve seen firsthand, through the experience of
one of Karma’s advisors and shareholders, Gerry Chambers, the amazing impact that the program can have. I’m thrilled
to be able to make this pledge to support Big Brothers Big Sisters now and into the future.”
Gerry volunteers through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester, New York. His Little Brother Tony was 11 years
old when they met. Five years later, the friendship has made an impact on Tony—and Gerry, too.
“My relationship with my Little Brother Tony through BBBS has been an incredibly positive experience. I see us both
continuing to benefit from remaining in each other’s lives.” – Gerry Chambers, “Big Brother”, Karma Advisor &
Shareholder
“When I met my Big Brother, I didn’t talk much, and it was hard for me to trust people. But after a while, my confidence
grew, and I knew Gerry was someone I could rely on.”– “Little Brother” Tony
“We appreciate the support from Karma Water, and their commitment to ‘do good’ in the community,” said Pam Iorio,
President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “Our Bigs are also committed to ‘doing good’ by igniting the
potential of our nation’s youth. Our mentoring program hasn’t stopped; despite the pandemic and other challenges our
country is facing today, our Bigs have found ways to stay connected with their Littles–virtually. Their dedication shows
that Bigs will be there for their Littles—now, and long after this crisis ends.”
The partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters and Karma Water is the start of a long-term relationship intended to
promote kindness and good deeds.

Across the globe, about 40% of employers find it difficult to recruit people with the skills they need for their businesses (The Learning Generation: Investing in Education for a Changing World, 2016). Mentoring can be an integral part of the solution in both better preparing youth for high-demand careers and offering employers a means of engaging and retaining their talented staff.

In 2008, Big Brothers Big Sisters established a workplace mentoring program, and partnered with Comcast NBCUniversal to grow it into a national program. The program addresses the challenges of preparing youth for post-high school success. Typically, students (called ‘Little Brothers’ or ‘Little Sisters’) from a neighborhood elementary, middle or high school, spend time with their mentor (called a ‘Big Brother’ or ‘Big Sister’) onsite at the offices of a local corporation. The Littles have an opportunity to visit a professional workplace setting, and learn about different career opportunities, from financial literacy to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), while developing meaningful relationships with the employee “Big.”

“Our employees are passionate about being positive role models and champions for young people,” said Dalila Wilson-Scott, President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. “After more than a decade of experience with Beyond School Walls, the program remains one of our employees’ most popular volunteer initiatives, and helps them to become better leaders while inspiring young people about what is possible.”

At Beyond School Walls sites across the nation, young people enrolled in the program report improved grades and peer relationships – mirroring the positive youth outcomes synonymous with Big Brothers Big Sisters legacy, community-based mentoring program, while reducing potential barriers to entry for volunteers by meeting them in their workplace.

And companies have found that the mentoring program can improve morale for employees; studies show volunteerism can reduce the high costs associated with employee turnover by 39% (Source: Youth Truth Survey, 2016).

Currently, 52 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in 30 states offer a Beyond School Walls program, serving more than 8,400 youth. The 343 corporate partners engaged in the program include the financial sector, government, travel and leisure, business services, and health care. Click here to read the 2020 Big Brothers Big Sisters report, Equipping Tomorrow’s Workforce: The Case for Workplace Mentoring.

“The challenges youth are facing today are compounded by the restrictions and stress of the pandemic,” said Pam Iorio, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.  “We have heard from Littles who have said they did not feel prepared to enter the workforce after high school. Keeping our youth connected to their Bigs in the Beyond School Walls Program is critical for their future as tomorrow’s leaders.”

Even with physical distancing limitations in place due to the pandemic, Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are enhancing the Beyond School Walls Program by providing virtual connections for Bigs and Littles. Staff members have created targeted curriculums for corporations and provided additional coaching, training and other resources to ensure youth have the support they need, long after this crisis ends.

To learn how your organization can get involved in a workplace mentoring program, contact Causemarketing@bbbs.org.

Statement of Guiding Principles to Advance Racial Equity and Justice

As leaders who are committed to equity and justice, as mission-focused organizations who are stewards of the public trust, and as a nonprofit sector with far-reaching impact on the national economy, the undersigned are committed to advancing racial justice and equity in all areas of civic and community life. We are deeply moved by the stark racial injustice that the intersecting crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and police violence toward people of color have once again revealed — racial injustice that is intertwined with America’s past and its present. The racial and ethnic disparities that persist across economic, education, healthcare, criminal justice, and other sectors of society make clear that systemic racism continues to undermine the foundations of well-being for communities of color by denying access to opportunity and making it more difficult to secure jobs, housing, healthcare, education, nutrition and equal treatment under law.

Faced with this moment of national urgency and entrusted by communities to lead in crisis, we affirm and commit to utilizing the following principles and values as a guide in our individual collective efforts to advance equity and justice:

We commit to dismantling systemic racism, redressing past discrimination, and advancing equity within our organizations, in our communities, and in our nation–through our organizational policies and practices in our programmatic work and by advocating for changes in public policy and law. Racial and ethnic disparities are a direct result of systemic racism today as well as past, unremedied discrimination that was often imposed or sanctioned by the government. Addressing these disparities requires our active engagement to change law, policy and practice.

We are committed to achieving a more comprehensive approach to justice and safety that invests needed resources in schools, child care, mental and behavioral health, affordable housing, job training and other supportive programs and services that contribute to healthy, strong, safe and vibrant communities. Societal goals of racial justice and public safety are best achieved when communities have the resources to match crisis situations with an appropriate response, whether that be mental and behavioral health, social service, police and other interventions.

As we work to strengthen communities, we must listen to and lift up the voices and experiences of impacted people and communities, particularly the voices of young people in those communities who will lead future generations. Intentionally engaging impacted communities strengthens policies, strategies, and decision-making. When we center and address the needs of the most marginalized, we recognize their humanity and advance equity and opportunity for all.

As we evaluate our programmatic work as well as policy proposals and legislation, we will specifically examine the extent to which they decrease racial disparities and oppression, particularly in systems and settings known to disproportionately and negatively impact people of color and other marginalized groups; advance solutions that have been developed in collaboration with and have the support of impacted communities, incorporate an intersectional and multi-sector approach to community challenges; and include the investments needed to fully implement and achieve racial equity outcomes.

Alliance for Strong Families and Communities

American Alliance of Museums

American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

American Heart Association

Americans for the Arts

Association of Art Museum Directors

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Catholic Charities USA

Council for Advancement and Support of Education

Covenant House International

Dance/USA

Feeding America

Girls Inc.

Goodwill Industries International, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity International

Independent Sector

Leadership 18

League of American Orchestras

Lutheran Services in America

Mental Health America

National Council on Aging

National Council of Nonprofits

National Human Services Assembly

Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies

OPERA America

United Philanthropy Forum

United Way Worldwide

The Salvation Army

The Arc of the United States

Volunteers of America

Welcoming America

YWCA USA

When David Bocangel started volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee in 2018, life was quite different. He signed up knowing there was a need for male mentors and those who spoke Spanish. David was excited about the opportunity to mentor a 7-year-old boy and share life experiences, too. Through the mentoring organization’s Site-Based program, David would spend time with Juan each week and Juan’s first grade teacher noticed a change, how he grew academically, and felt more comfortable embracing his differences.

Earlier this year, David made the decision to transition to the Site-Based Plus program so the two could also spend time together outside of school. He’s glad he did. That interaction and connection is even more important today, because of COVID-19 and the concern that social isolation will take a toll on our nation’s youth. 

There are so many unknowns about the long-lasting impact of a global pandemic on our local communities, but one truth remains certain: our youth, like Juan, are considered the most vulnerable, and their wellbeing is critical to our nation’s recovery.

Established more than a century ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters is committed to creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth, now, and long after this crisis ends. Thanks to the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, 15 agencies in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Federation have received funding to continue to innovate and devise new strategies to support our volunteers (called ‘Bigs’), the children we serve (called ‘Littles’) and the Littles’ families.

Our mentoring program is considered an essential service; parents and guardians have a high level of trust in our professionally trained staff. Some have shared that Big Brothers Big Sisters has provided peace of mind that we are here for their child.

Agencies that received funding are located in rural communities and small towns, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State in Huntington, West Virginia, currently supporting 129 Big/Little matches per year; to larger cities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, with nearly 1,200 Big/Little matches. The youth and volunteers in the program represent diversity in many areas (i.e. elementary-aged and high school Littles, younger and seasoned volunteers, those in the LGBTQ community and, matches from different ethnic backgrounds).

Each community faces its own unique set of challenges. Based on data from the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study, we know that living in a single-parent household, with a family member suffering from mental illness, or with someone using drugs or alcohol are all indicators of childhood trauma. ACEs are linked to risky health behaviors, poor health outcomes, and even early death. Compared to national statistics, young people enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are experiencing these circumstances more often than their peers. Social isolation can compound the effects of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring relationships can protect against the harmful effects of ACEs and help young people who are exposed to childhood trauma heal.

When schools closed and shelter-in-place orders were enacted nationwide last spring, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring didn’t stop. Physical distancing guidelines may have paused in-person visits, but Big Brothers Big Sisters staff continue to find innovative ways to keep kids connected. On the national level, we are developing and launching eMentoring communication options allowing staff, Bigs, and Littles to stay in communication virtually and in real time. Not only has it been a sense of comfort for the Little, but the Big, too.

In addition to enhanced mentoring support and coaching, Big Brothers Big Sisters staff have worked to obtain additional resources for families, from delivering food and securing educational tools for learning to even establishing free drive-up Wi-Fi services at their agency offices. And for the Littles, their friendship with their Bigs may be the only sense of normalcy in a world that has turned upside down.

Once we are through this immediate crisis, we know that our youth and families will continue to feel lasting, profound effects. We thank SNF for being a committed partner to help alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read full article HERE.

For more than a decade, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been proud to partner with Comcast NBCUniversal to defend the potential of youth across the country. Never has both the strength and significance of our relationship been more evident than during the global crisis we are experiencing. Putting innovative, strategic thinking into action, Comcast NBCUniversal has helped Big Brothers Big Sisters continue to provide for our students during these most challenging times.

“Beyond School Walls,” the workplace mentoring program that matches Comcast “Bigs” with “Littles” at 14 corporate and regional offices nationwide, faced a significant threat when COVID-19 forced companies to work from home. Instead of closing its doors on the program that gives “Littles” access to a professional work environment, Comcast assessed what WAS possible and pivoted support. For instance, each Beyond School Walls location has a meal stipend fund. Without meeting in person, hundreds of students would not have access to this food, and their families might not have the basics at home. Comcast shifted the stipends to pay for grocery gift cards, allowing Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members to create care packages for families who may have otherwise gone without.

In addition to food, the pandemic challenged access to the internet, which in turn can prevent youth from continuing their education. When schools and libraries closed in March, many “Littles” did not have a way to connect. Many families, however, were able to take advantage of Comcast’s Internet Essentials, a program that provides low-cost, high-speed internet at home – proving to be vital for schooling now that virtual learning is the new normal. And, thanks to a donation from Comcast earlier this year of more than 360 iPads – one to each “Little” in the Beyond School Walls programs – the students not only had a device to use for learning, they also had a lifeline to stay connected to their “Bigs,” providing emotional support and preventing social isolation.

As Comcast’s partnership is engrained in our programs across the board, their commitment to helping us thrive this year touched additional initiatives, including:

• The pandemic also accelerated the need for the platform, which has been part of a multi-year strategic plan for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. What would have taken a year to build was finalized in three months, thanks to the support of several corporate partners. Agencies now have a mobile solution to safely keep kids connected, and the funding from Comcast also provided networkwide training, staff onboarding, and change management programs for the platform.
• : This year’s BBBSA National Conference shifted to a virtual event, but the impact was just as powerful with nearly 3,000 staff, board members, and Bigs attending sessions over a two-week period. Dalila Wilson-Scott, Senior Vice President of Community Impact for Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, was featured as an expert panelist for our ‘Corporate Response to Crisis’ webinar. She spoke about the need for mentorship during these unprecedented times and gave agencies advice on how best to work with their partners.
• Through airing a 30-second PSA, Comcast raised awareness about the impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters with more than 47,000 views, helping to share the importance of the mentoring program with audiences across the country.

While there is still much uncertainty in the world ahead, the events of this past year showcase how the strength of the long-lasting partnership between Comcast NBCUniversal and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America truly is ‘Bigger Together’.

The 2020 Federated Challenge® raised a record-breaking $3,087,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters, during its first-ever virtual gala on Sunday, July 26. Even during this unprecedented time in history, a record 61 prominent businesses and more than 500 attendees logged on to their computers and mobile devices to support youth mentoring in Minnesota and throughout America.

“We knew in our hearts that canceling this year’s event was not an option,” said Federated Insurance Chairman and CEO Jeff Fetters. “And that decision became more significant this year than ever before, as many kids have been patiently waiting to be matched with a Big. Sunday’s event set that in motion – opening the door to create strong bonds and long-lasting friendships.”

One hundred percent of the money raised will be donated to Minnesota’s three Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America®. These organizations are creating powerful one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”). A portion of the donations are earmarked for the Federated Challenge Scholarship Program, which provides up to $5,000 per year to qualified Littles or high school Bigs enrolled in a non-four-year program focusing on apprenticeship, certificate, trade school, technical, or community college. Since the program’s inception close to 100 students have benefited from the scholarship fund and are earning job-ready training degrees with little to no debt.

“Remarkable times call for remarkable people, and our generous Federated Challenge corporate sponsors and individual donors have answered that call,” said Fetters. “We may have been apart, but we still came together to help Big Brothers Big Sisters matches ignite potential.”

The virtual gala – hosted by Co-chairs Jeff and Marty Fetters – featured WCCO veteran broadcaster Dave Lee. The event included special messages from members of the Minnesota Gophers athletic department, Minnesota United Football Club, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Guests also heard powerful mentoring success stories from Big Don MacPherson, Little Shakeel Nelson, and Little Isaih Handy.  

 “Collectively, the funds we raised during this event will directly support countless young people,” added Fetters. “The Federated Challenge continues to be a first-class event, whether it’s held in person or virtually. Most importantly, it continues to rally people around a cause that empowers youth and strengthens communities. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission is one we proudly stand behind.”

The Federated Challenge was founded in 2004 as a two-day fund-raising event hosted by Federated Insurance, a commercial insurance company headquartered in Owatonna, Minnesota. Now in its sixteenth year, this event has raised more than $41 million for youth mentoring programs.

America is losing its most precious resource, its heart. Can we find it in time to save ourselves? Or is it simply just too late?

We, the collective “America,” are dying. There are no vaccines; no doctors; no equipment to save us. Instead, America needs to find its heart to heal itself and must do it soon.

No city in America is immune from the hate or from the violence that often follows it. Friday evening, even in Atlanta, known as the “City Too Busy to Hate,” violence erupted. What has occurred in Atlanta during the past couple of days is a tragedy beyond comprehension. It is a reaction to injustice, but injustice can’t be solved by more injustice. Violence is not the answer. The core of the problem runs too deep.

As an American, as a Black American, and as a successful Black American, writing this hurts.

Hatred has infected America’s heart. And the hate is spreading into our intellect, our economies, our politics. The result of this disease: The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the shooting death of an unarmed jogger in Brunswick, the false accusations against a black birdwatcher in Central Park. Elsewhere, a white youth pastor claimed he was kidnapped by black men to cover up why he was in a hotel. In another place, a woman in Florida claimed two black men abducted her autistic son only to have her now charged with murdering her own child.

We know the names of the black men and women hurt or killed in racially charged incidents – those who have made it into the news:

George Floyd, Rodney King, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.

Are we angry enough to relentlessly search for a cure? You don’t have to have a specific level of melanin in your DNA to be immune. This disease, the loss of America’s heart, will prove to be the downfall of us all.

Should we blame the justice system? Is it just about race? Is it bigotry that has been growing unchecked? This is a far deeper malady. It’s a hatred so deeply rooted that it has taken over our identity as a society. It is a disease so insidious that it rots all it touches and then hides behind single incidents and behind those of us who have comfortable lives. It’s all connected. We are all connected.

We are the problem. We are also the solution. Hopefully we are not too far into the cesspool of divisiveness and turmoil that we have allowed to grow and swirl around us.

Do we care enough about each other to fix this? To find America’s heart? To save ourselves? Do we understand each other enough to get angry enough to make it stop – for good?

We are liberated, but we are not free. We need to know the difference to make a difference. Do we know who we are? Did we forget our own beliefs of decency and empathy? If we don’t know who we truly are, and we don’t remember what we believe in, we are condemned to keep living this nightmare, no matter our skin color or political ideology.

Can we blame mental illness? The coronavirus? A never-ending news cycle? The economy and other inequality in America?

No doubt, we live in a world of spontaneous news reporting and easy access to an overwhelming amount of information from all types of people with varying beliefs. COVID-19 has added enormous tension to lives. As masses of people are out of work, distrust and anxiety grow and can lead to an increase in our shared societal ills: hunger or drugs, drinking, and violence.

At the deep center of the cesspool, and not to oversimplify the issues at hand, is that we are not willing to put ourselves in the shoes of those who are struggling and then figure out how to do something about those struggles.

We keep at bay those who don’t look like us or run in our circles. We allow our comfortable worlds to continue with as little interference from the discomfort of others as possible.

The time has come to stop. Hatred must stop. Alienation must stop. I am fed up and I hope you are too. Action is not simply writing a check to a diverse cause. Expecting others to move forward, is not action. Change is going to take action from ALL of us.

We must be the agents of change and drum majors for justice.

I have been committed to this cause my entire professional career — committed to creating harmony and understanding among the different individuals I call friends, colleagues, clients, mentors, and even family. I am now going to be more aggressive on this issue. I am committing to creating and executing a comprehensive plan that reaches out to the business and other community leaders, for the sake of Atlanta and beyond.

Some may feel awkward. This may not be in everyone’s comfort zone. It is difficult to come to terms that we are as near death as we can be as a society. Peaceful, intentional, actionable planning and execution is mandatory. Hate and violence are no longer an option. It’s time to stop and realize that we cannot blame others for the problem at hand, if we are unwilling to step into the fray ourselves.

Ernest Greer is co-president of Greenberg Traurig, an international law firm of over 2,200 attorneys. He serves on the boards for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Atlanta History Center, Achieve Atlanta, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Atlanta Police Foundation.

Read Mr. Greer’s op-ed in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution here: https://www.ajc.com/news/opinion/opinion-america-has-lost-its-heart-and-that-hurts-all/M1enZfmmF29ZpPNyCc0U2H/

Local Leaders Help Create Life-Changing Mentoring Relationships for Children

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America recognized six exceptional local agencies on June 26 during its Annual National Conference, which was held virtually June 15-26.  These agencies have demonstrated outstanding leadership and have increased the number of children served in their communities. Each one has also made key strategic decisions that have resulted in innovation and growth during the past year.

Those selected were recognized for: increasing the number of children served, the quality and length of each mentoring relationship, and increased revenue, all key components needed to ensure agencies can continue help more youth who want—and need—a mentor in their lives.

“Our Network of 240 agencies is strong because of the commitment of the agency leaders, staff and Board members who make it a priority every day to defend the potential of youth across the country,” said Pam Iorio, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “We also applaud these outstanding agencies for their innovation, and their ability to pivot when faced with challenges.”

Agencies of the Year

The winning agencies have focused on growing the number and maintaining the quality of mentoring relationships between caring adult volunteers (called ‘Bigs) and youth (called ‘Littles’).

• Large Agency of the Year: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts [Boston, Massachusetts]
• Mid-Large Agency of the Year: Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee [Knoxville, Tennessee]
• Small-Mid Agency of the Year:  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra [Cameron Park, California]

Robert M. Kommerstad Boards of the Year

By guiding staff and shaping programming, agency boards also have a profound impact on the success of the agencies in their communities.

• Large Agency Kommerstad Board of the Year: Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Carolinas [Charlotte, North Carolina]
• Mid-Large Agency Kommerstad Board of the Year: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast, Indiana [Fort Wayne, Indiana]
• Small Agency Kommerstad Board of the Year: Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana [Bloomington, Indiana]

By the age of 10, Little Brother Jaylin endured more pain than any person should have to deal with, coping with the loss of his mother, father and stepfather. Surrounded by the love of his grandmother and three aunts who raised him, they felt the missing piece for Jaylin was having a strong, positive male role model in his life. Big Brother Matt Barnes remembers when he first met Jaylin, the entire family, was there, too. They wanted Matt to know, just how important Jaylin was in their lives.

For Matt, it was an opportunity to give back in a different way. But it’s grown into more than just a volunteer experience, they are truly connected for life. Matt was in the stands watching proudly when Jaylin hit a grand slam; and he’s also been there for Jaylin during the tough times.

Over the past four years, Jaylin and Matt have worked together on goal setting and they’ve had plenty of fun along the way: they compete to win against one another in every sport, whether it’s mini-golf or bowling! Jaylin graduated this year and has an interest in automotive technology.  The future entrepreneur wants to open his own automotive shop, focusing on electric cars.

“I had it hard growing up, but I never used that as a crutch, and found ways to better myself,” said Jaylin. “And Matt has helped me grow as a man, which isn’t easy, especially in the society we live in now. He’s taught me how to speak up, and I thank him for that.”