Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSCI) honored our eight Littles graduating from high school at the second annual Match Makers Breakfast on June 8, 2017 at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. The Match Makers Breakfast raised almost $12,000 in individual donations in support of our Match Makers program!
Match Makers is our monthly online giving program that provides a consistent source of financial support for our mentoring programs.
Over 180 guests learned about the BBBSCI Mission and celebrated our graduating Littles’ accomplishments. Guests were welcomed by CEO, Nancy Muecke and Board of Directors President, Tyler Dingel emceed the event. Little Brother, Gerald; his mother, Morlu; and his Big Duo, Mitch and Kristine Reed shared their positive and life-changing experience with BBBSCI- check out their message here.
Each Little was recognized during the event and received special gifts: a laptop from UnitedHealthcare; a backpack from Graham Group; a free haircut from Aveda Institute Des Moines; a padfolio and tumbler from Sammons Financial Group; and a fleece blanket from Nationwide. Performance Marketing designed banners featuring each graduating Little that were featured at the event. We can’t thank these companies enough for donating the gifts and banners to our Littles.
Post-graduation plans for our Littles vary from enrolling in a two-year community college program, attending a four-year university, to entering the workforce to begin a career. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa is so proud of our graduating Littles for what they have achieved. We can’t wait to see what their futures have in store!
Congratulations to our graduating Littles!
| Little’s Name | School | Big’s Name | # of Years Matched |
| Natalie | East High School | Darcy Dakovich | 6 years |
| Austin | Lincoln High School | Larry Bradshaw | 11 years |
| Kayla | Norwalk High School | Lois Woodward | 9 years |
| Cody | Ankeny High School | Big Family Kari & Keith Karpinske | 10 years |
| Gerald | Ankeny Centennial High | Big Duo Kristine & Mitch Reed | 12 years |
| Paul | Carlisle High School | Russ Asman | 11 years |
| Hailey | Hoover High School | Caroline Jones | 6 years |
| Kyleana | East High School | Nicole Nayima | 9 years |
Check out photos from the event here.
Thank you to the following in-kind sponsors:
-UnitedHealthcare
-Aveda Institute Des Moines
-Nationwide
-Nicky Schissel
-Performance Marketing
-Photographer Lani Tons
-Sammons Financial Group
-Smoothie King
-The Graham Group, Inc.
-The World Food Prize
-TwelveX
-CLE