We are here to start something

Starting something since 1971At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, we’ve been impacting the lives of children for 40 years. And we’re just getting started.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas: 40 Years of History

The Central Texas agency was founded in 1971 which means 2011 is our 40th anniversary! Things sure have changed since we opened the doors by serving only boys from single-parent homes. Early newspaper articles report that many years before the formal founding of what was then known as Big Brothers of Austin, two men were busy at work trying to get the vision of pairing a needy child with a positive role model off the ground. Those two men were Lonnie McArthur and Father Richard McCabe.

Here is a look at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas' history, from the start:

Date	Event
1960s	Long-time East Austin resident and community leader Lonnie McArthur initiates a program called "Dads and Sons Clubs." This club evolves into a summertime baseball league for East Austin neighborhood boys which McArthur named "the Big Brother Association."
1961	Father Richard McCabe, Director of Catholic Charities of Austin, collaborates with Bill Anderson, Chief Probation Officer at the Travis County Juvenile Court to start an on-going program called Big Brothers. Father McCabe and the Catholic Charities give $100 per month for the next eight years to pay a man to coordinate the efforts of Big Brothers.
1963	Five formal matches exists between a male adult and a boy and a focus is recruiting volunteers to be paired with kids coming through the juvenile court.
1970	A small group of men resolved to get the necessary support to begin a full time Big Brothers agency.
1971	On January 22, 1971, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Austin, Inc. is officially recognized by the State of Texas.
1971	On October 1, 1971, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Austin, Inc, begins to operate.
1972	By January 1972, Big Brothers of Austin grows from serving five boys to serving 25 boys.
1974	Big Brothers of Austin, Inc. works with more than 250 boys and has an annual budget of $49,000.
1975	Big Brothers begins to serve females and becomes Big Brothers Big Sisters of Austin.
1978	Big Brothers Big Sisters works with more than 400 matches.
1981	Big Couples program launches offering married couples with or without children, the opportunity to be matched together with a Little Brother or Little Sister.
1981	Hobie Day, an annual match activity sponsored by Hobie Fleet 64 (now Austin Cats) launches. This fun-filled event brings together matches, families and BBBS staff for a day of sailing and fun on the water.
1983	Bowl for Kids' Sake, the agency's signature annual fundraiser, kicks off in Central Texas.
1983	Governor Mark White declares May 2 "Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas Day".
1986	Scholarship program launches providing Littles in the Central Texas program a $2,000 higher education incentive.
2005	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is one of only 30 agencies out of 423 nationwide to receive a Program Quality Award.
2005	Helping Austin launches the Ice Ball, a gala with proceeds benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas.
2006	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is named "Best Nonprofit" by Austin Chronicle Reader's Poll.
2006	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is one of only 26 agencies out of 423 nationwide to receive a “Perfect 10” award, which recognizes 10 percent growth in children served, new volunteer-child pairs, improved volunteer retention, and revenue.
2007	Gil Levy, VP of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is honored with a national service award.
2008	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is ranked in the top five nationally for match quality measures such as six-month retention, duration of the match, and support to the match.
2009	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is one of only 16 agencies to receive recognition at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America national conference for match quality measures such as six-month retention, duration of the match, and support to the match.
2009	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas receives Time Warner Cable Education Award from the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce which recognizes an organization that demonstrates contribution and philanthropy within the community to support education.
2009	Ben De Leon, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas volunteer, is named Texas Big of the Year.
2009	Ben De Leon is named National Big Brother of the Year.
2010	President Obama holds a White House National Mentoring Month Ceremony; Big Brothers Big Sisters attends and plays a key role. Ben De Leon and his Little Brother Anthony attend ceremony.
2010	Gil Levy, VP of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is asked to serve on the Mentoring Programs Committee for the Nationwide Leadership Council.
2010	Reva Gartzke and Ben Bufkin, both Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas volunteers, are named Texas Bigs of the Year.
2011	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas celebrates 40 year anniversary.
2011	Lt. Governor David Dewhurst passes Senate Resolution #1019 recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas' 40 years of service.
2011	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas named Gold Standard Agency (one of 18 out of 400 agencies) by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. This recognition embodies the criteria for continued success and serves as a motivation to other agencies for improved success.
2011	Tommy Fad, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas volunteer, is named Texas Big of the Year.
2011	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is honored with Quality Award for its high level of accountability and commitment to quality.
2011	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas is one of only three large agencies in the running for Agency of the Year.

To learn more about the history of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, click here.