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Blog

Monthly Archive for: "February, 2019"
 Reva and Joe: A Love Match

Reva and Joe: A Love Match

February 25, 2019

At Big Brothers Big Sisters, our work is all about relationships... but some of the relationships we’ve inspired might surprise you!

Read More 
 Spotlight on Diana Doria

Spotlight on Diana Doria

February 25, 2019

Diana Doria has evolved naturally into her role as Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Customer Relations Specialist. Committed early on to working in a field that would allow her to help people, Diana [...]

Read More 
 Amplify Austin Starts Next Week!

Amplify Austin Starts Next Week!

February 20, 2019

Help us create more mentoring relationships like the one between Sheri and Kalaina. Read their story here.

Read More 
 Our 2019 Bigs of the Year

Our 2019 Bigs of the Year

February 8, 2019

At the beginning of the year, we recognize two special individuals as Central Texas' Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year. For 2019 the honors go to...

Read More 
 Amplify Austin Is Coming Soon!

Amplify Austin Is Coming Soon!

February 6, 2019

Help us create more mentoring relationships like the one between Olivia and Tanya. Read their story here.

Read More 
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Blog Categories
  • Bennett-Rathgeber Mentoring Center (8)
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas (75)
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters profiles (40)
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  • Big Futures (3)
  • Big Stories (113)
  • Bigs in Blue (2)
  • Bowl for Kids (3)
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  • Corporate philanthropy (14)
  • Education (18)
  • Events (63)
  • From the CEO (5)
  • Fundraising (6)
  • Game Changers (12)
  • Holiday Party (2)
  • Holiday Party (1)
  • Ice Ball (5)
  • Little Stories (36)
  • mentoring (74)
  • Mentoring Center (10)
  • Military Mentoring / Operation Bigs (3)
  • National Mentoring Month (6)
  • News & Updates (123)
  • Scholarship Program (5)
  • Uncategorized (3)
  • Year End Giving (2)

Participants and Supporters

  • Sponsors

  • Sponsors

  • Sponsors

  • “I love seeing the difference that mentoring makes for our children and our community.”

    Jamie Avila, Board Member

  • Sponsors

  • “My Big makes me feel important.”

    Little Brother

  • “Thanks to my amazing Big Sister, I knew from early on how important my education would be.”

    Little Sister

  • “With my Big Sister’s help I am doing better in school.”

    Little Sister

  • “My Big Brother appreciates me for who I am.”

    Little Brother

  • “My son has a stronger focus on his future as a result of his match.”

    Family

  • “Becoming a Big is by far one of the best decisions I’ve made. My Little is constantly surprising me with her eagerness to try new things. Having the opportunity to mentor and see her grow has been not only rewarding, but also lots of fun!”

    Reyna, Big Sister

  • “I love reading with my Big Sister.”

    Little Sister

  • “Now, oh my gosh, how my daughter has changed. She just has a better outlook on life.”

    Family

  • “My son is consciously making the right choices now to set himself up for whatever he decides to do.”

    Family

  • “Being a Big Brother has enriched my life.”

    Ben, Big Brother

  • “My Big Sister is always there for me when I need her.”

    Little Sister

  • “I can tell my Big Sister anything and she listens without judging me.”

    Little Sister

  • “My Big Brother has helped me discover new things.”

    Little Brother

  • Sponsors

  • “If it weren’t for her, I know that I would have ended up in an environment that I should not have been in.”

    Little Sister

  • “My husband is gone a lot on military assignments, and I wanted our daughters to have another responsible adult in their lives that they could have fun with and talk to if they didn’t feel comfortable talking to me.”

    Family

  • “It’s a privilege to be able to help kids recognize the potential within themselves and illuminate the opportunities they have in their lives.”

    Jeremy, Big Brother

  • “As a Big, I get to spend time with my Little doing things I loved doing as a kid – exploring, going out to eat, cooking, visiting book stores, and being there as another ear and voice as she tries to navigate her world.”

    Audra, Big Sister

  • “My Big Brother has taken me to visit several colleges and I’m excited to start applying.”

    Little Brother

  • “As a Big, I’m able to pay it forward by providing my Little with some of the opportunities that I’ve been lucky to have in my life – companionship, encouragement, confidence and trust. “

    Jeremy, Big Brother

  • “As a Big, I can commit to a consistent volunteer opportunity where I feel like I’m giving back to my community, and I’m rewarded with a meaningful relationship with an awesome Little who has so much to offer as well.”

    John, Big Brother

  • “Whenever something is bothering me, I can talk with my Big about it.”

    Little Sister

  • “Children are our future. I like helping them realize their potential.”

    Donor

  • “Having a Big in our lives has helped my whole family.”

    Natasha, Mom of a Little

  • “My son’s relationship with his Big Brother has had a big impact.”

    Family

  • “Together we can make an even greater difference.”

    Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Ph.D., President of Huston-Tillotson University

  • Sponsors

  • “My relationship with my Big Brother is very important to me.”

    Little Brother

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas | 4800 Manor Rd, Bldg K, Austin, TX 78723 | Mail: PO Box 4555, Austin, TX 78765 | Phone: 512-472-5437 | Fax: 512-472-5460
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  • Careers
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  • Financial Statements
Advisory Council

Composed of high-visibility individuals and organizations, the Advisory Council provides BBBS with a lasting influence and cross-community reach. Convening at least twice per year, the group provides input on strategic issues as needed, influences others to support our mission and contribute resources, and recruits new members for our Executive Board.

Darrell Bazzell
The University of Texas at Austin
Senior Vice President and CFO

Kyndel Bennett
Cayetano Development, LLC
Chief Executive Officer

Clayton Christopher
CAVU Venture Partners
Partner

Dr. Paul Cruz
Austin Independent School District
Superintendent

Hector De Leon
De Leon Washburn & Ward, P.C.
Founder

Chris Ellis
Endeavor Real Estate Group, Ltd.
Managing Principal

Gary Farmer
Heritage Title Company of Austin, Inc.
President

Kerry Hall
Texas Capital Bank
President, Austin Region

Amy Jones
O’Connell Robertson
President

Nyle Maxwell
Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships
Dealer Principal

Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette
Huston-Tillotson University
President

Dick Rathgeber
Rathgeber Investments
President

Dr. Joanne Smith
Texas State University
VP for Student Affairs

Lawrence Speck
Page Southerland Page, Inc.
Senior Principal

Carl Stuart
Registered Investment Advisor

Tom Taylor
Taylor Investments
Principal

Pictured from left to right: Dick Rathgeber, Kyndel Bennett, Kerry Hall, Lawrence Speck, Tom Taylor, Amy Jones, Gary Farmer, Carl Stewart

Not pictured: Darrell Bazzell, Clayton Christopher, Dr. Paul Cruz, Hector De Leon, Chris Ellis, Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Nyle Maxwell, Dr. Joanne Smith

Talk With Us

Learn more about the commitment and if it’s right for you. You can reach us at 512-807-3646 or via email: volunteer@bigmentoring.org.

Executive Board of Directors

The Executive Board is a group of community-focused leaders invested in improving the lives of Austin youth. Their main responsibilities involve raising funds to support our agency, reviewing and approving agency policies, and generating awareness of, and support for, BBBS.

Blake Absher, Board Chair
BB&T
Austin Market President

Dave Alben
US Micro Products, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer

Jamie Avila
TCP Real Estate
Residential Real Estate Realtor

Becky Bonham
Real Estate Developer
Partner

Nad Elias
recruitAbility
Chief Executive Officer

Heather Granato
Senior Executive, Client Services

Lonzo Jackson
Tower Research Capital, Information Security
Senior IT Security Risk Manager

April Justice
General Motors
IT Director

Evan Spaulding
Sabre Commercial, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer

Albert Swantner
Bohemian Innovations
Chief Executive Officer

Pictured from left to right: Evan Spaulding, Heather Granato, Jamie Avila, Becky Bonham, Blake Absher, David Rappold
Not pictured: Dave Alben, Nad Elias, Lonzo Jackson, April Justice, Albert Swantner

Big Impact Group

The Big Impact Group is a diverse collective of dedicated men and women who volunteer their time, talents and energy to support BBBS of Central Texas’ mission, further its programs, and establish themselves as future leaders for BBBS by engaging constituents, recruiting volunteers. and raising funds.

Jeremy Cox
My Event is the Bomb
Owner

Tri Dang
Texas Health & Human Services
Program Specialist V, Child Care Licensing Division

Oliver Davis-Urman
WeWork
Regional Sales Lead

Liz Garcia
Courageous Feats
Owner

Ali Nichols
Blackbaud
Team Lead

Jeremy Giroir
Collective Capital
Owner/Founder

Nicholas Johnson
OpenJAUS, LLC
Chief Technical Officer

Michaela Lindsay, Chair
Worksmith
VP Marketplace Development

Stefan Sinclair
TheWaveVR
Software Development Engineer

Albert Swatner
Bohemian Innovations, Sway Water
Founder

Pictured from left to right on back row: Stefan Sinclair, Joe Strychalski, Albert Swantner, Oliver Davis-Urman, Jeremy Giroir.

Pictured from left to right on front row: Liz Garcia, Nicholas Johnson, Michaela Lindsay, Jonathan Lin-Davis.

Not pictured: Jeremy Cox, Tri Dang and Ali Nichols.

Foundation Board

The Foundation Board’s purpose is to oversee all aspects of BBBS’s Scholarship Program, including managing the endowment and distributing scholarship funds to institutions.

Jamie Avila
TCP Real Estate
Residential Real Estate Agent

Carlos Barbosa
Wells Fargo Bank
SVP/Loan Supervisor – Commercial Banking

Loraine Brown, Foundation Board Chair
Vino Veritas Ventures
Founder & Owner

Virginia Murillo Fraire, Ph.D.
Austin Community College
Vice President, Student Services

Bill Hopkins
Husch Blackwell, LLP
Attorney/Partner

Lonzo Jackson
Copper Squared
Founder and Principle

Thessaly Startzell, Treasurer
Dell, Inc.
Counsel & Board Liaison of Dell Corporate Legal

Pictured from Left to Right: Bill Hopkins, Virginia Murillo Fraire Ph.D., Lorraine Brown, Thessaly Startzell, Jamie Avila
Not pictured: Lonzo Jackson

Meet With Us

We will visit with you in your home or in our office. Help us get to know your child so we can find the best match for him or her.

Talk With Us

Learn more about the commitment and if it’s right for your child. You can reach us at 512-807-3646 or via email: info@bigmentoring.org.

Apply

Complete the full volunteer application.

Application – English
Application – Spanish

Apply

Complete the child enrollment application.

Application – English
Application – Spanish

 

Get Matched

Learn about a potential Little who we think is a good fit for you.

Interview

Let us get to know you so we can find the best match for you!

Training Session

Learn more about what to expect once you are matched.

Meet Your Little

We’ll introduce you to your new Little and his or her family. Start hanging out and getting to know each other!

Get Ready/Wait for a Match

We’ll search carefully for a Big for your child. Try to be patient. It takes time to find a great match.

Get Matched

Learn about a potential Big and move forward if you approve the match.

Meet Your Child's Big

We will introduce you and your child to your new Big. They will start spending time together and getting to know each other.