50 YEARS OF CHANGING LIVES
Throughout our years in Central Texas, our mission has never changed. We aim to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth, helping children build their biggest possible futures.
SEE US THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
1971
- Big Brothers of Austin, Inc. is officially recognized by the State of Texas and begins to operate (October 1).
1972
- Big Brothers of Austin, Inc. grows from serving 5 boys to serving 25 matches.
- BBBS Art Raffle – first major annual fundraiser raises just over $10,000
1974
- Big Brothers of Austin, Inc. works with more than 250 boys.
1975
- Big Brothers begins to serve females and becomes Big Brothers Big Sisters of Austin.
1978
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Austin works with more than 400 matches.
- By the 1980s BBBS has grown to serving over 1,000 kids in the Austin area and is named one of the top 5 BBBS chapters in America.
1981
- Hobie Day, an annual match event devoted to sailing, launches.
1983
- Bowl for Kids, one of the agency’s signature annual fundraisers, kicks off in Central Texas.
1985
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas moves to 1400 Tillery. Remains there for 28 years.
1986
- The Scholarship Program launches, providing Littles in Central Texas a $2,000 higher education incentive.
2005
Helping Austin launches Ice Ball, a gala benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas.
2009
- National Big Brother of the Year from BBBS Central Texas (Ben De Leon)
- Gift of land and launch of Capital Campaign
- Agency assumes ownership and management of the Ice Ball gala
2016
- 600+ guests attend Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas’ 11th Annual Ice Ball gala, raising $500,000 for the organization.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters moves into the agency’s new Bennett-Rathgeber Mentoring Center (October)
- Big Futures pilot program launched to serve youth as they transition from high school to young adulthood
2017
- Big Impact Group launched
- BBBS receives BBBSA Gold Standard Award
- BBBS Board of the Year winner
- BBBS Agency of the Year finalist
- SantaCon fundraiser is launched.
2018 & 2019
- BBBS partners with Austin Central Library to host agency’s largest match holiday party with over 500 participants each year
2020
- COVID pandemic hits. Bowl for Kids, Ice Ball, Scholarship Ceremony, and SantaCon are offered as virtual events. Match introductions are made online.
- National Big/Little Sister of the Year (Ashley Cureton & Brianna Warren)
- Formation of BBBS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee
- BBBS serves as a voting site for the 2021 presidential election. 10,000 people cast their votes at the BBBS location
FUNDRAISE
FOR THEIR FUTURE
We’re excited you’re here to celebrate our past. We invite you to help us fund the futures of the children we mentor.Â
Our 50 years has been a time filled with joyous memories made together. We encourage you to share your photos and stories from the last 50 years with the BBBS organization.
