The agency is recognized for outstanding team leadership in providing one-to-one mentoring programming for local youth
Des Moines, IA (July 11, 2022) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSCI) has been recognized as a 2022 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) Gold Standard Award Winner. Every year, the BBBSA Nationwide Leadership Council, made up of local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency leaders and board members, selects agencies for excellence in the organization’s signature one-to-one youth mentoring program. Out of approximately 230 agencies across the country, BBBSCI is one of 12 organizations to receive this top honor. Last year, BBBSCI received recognition as a BBBSA Quality Award Winner.
The Gold Standard Award recognizes agencies that have met the Quality Award criteria as well as increased their revenue and grown the number of mentors (“Bigs”) and youth (“Littles”) who are matched through the program, year over year. The Quality Award recognizes agencies that serve more than 100 children, raise at least $200,000, and achieve a 12-month retention rate above 73% for Community-Based matches and above 54% for Site-Based matches. In the past year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa has served 535 youth and grown its local services by 3% percent. BBBSCI was one of 12 agencies (out of 230) to receive this coveted award.
“Receiving awards like this is important to our agency because it shows the impact we are having in the community. This is not just a Big Brothers Big Sisters accomplishment. It is a Central Iowa accomplishment. We could not do this work without the dedicated mentors who volunteer their time and resources to nurture our youth,” said Bridget Cravens-Neely, CEO of BBBSCI. “Our Program staff does incredible work every day to support the mentorship matches they initiate and facilitate. This is why being a Big is essential to the growth and development of our community.”
For over 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been dedicated to advancing equity, impact, and growth across the organization, making a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Today, the organization helps build self-confidence and emotional well-being by connecting Bigs and Littles through one-to-one mentoring relationships. In these relationships, young people are empowered to pursue their full potential, build a plan for their futures and be supported by a mentor whose impact can last a lifetime.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country are finding innovative ways to serve young people and strengthen communities,” said Artis Stevens, President and CEO of BBBSA. “We congratulate these agencies for leading the way in transforming mentorship for our communities, and most importantly, our young people.”
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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSCI) has been dedicated to serving youth (“Littles”), ages 5-18, through professionally supported mentoring relationships with adults (“Bigs”) in Central Iowa. As the premier mentoring organization in Central Iowa, BBBSCI’s mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. In 2022, BBBSCI was voted #3 Most Influential Nonprofit by Des Moines Business Record readers. Please visit www.bbbsia.org or call 515-288-9025 for further information.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is to create and support one-to-one mentoring 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. Big Brothers Big Sisters has approximately 230 local agencies serving more than 5,000 communities across all 50 states. For more information, visit: www.bbbs.org.
Leadership Contact:
Bridget Cravens-Neely, Chief Executive Officer
Media Contact:
Sara Bishop, Communications Specialist
[email protected] | (515) 215-9973