Giving Back: Voting at BBBS
Since the plans were initially drawn up for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Bennett-Rathgeber Mentoring Center over 5 years ago, the goal has always been to collaborate with the community by offering [...]
Since the plans were initially drawn up for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Bennett-Rathgeber Mentoring Center over 5 years ago, the goal has always been to collaborate with the community by offering [...]
“Whenever something is bothering me, I can talk with my Big about it.”
Little Sister
“I love reading with my Big Sister.”
Little Sister
“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 relationship with my Big Brother is very important to me.”
Little Brother
“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 Big makes me feel important.”
Little Brother
“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
“I can tell my Big Sister anything and she listens without judging me.”
Little Sister
“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 son has a stronger focus on his future as a result of his match.”
Family
“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
“My Big Brother has helped me discover new things.”
Little Brother
Sponsors
“My son’s relationship with his Big Brother has had a big impact.”
Family
“Thanks to my amazing Big Sister, I knew from early on how important my education would be.”
Little Sister
“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
Sponsors
Sponsors
“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
Sponsors
Sponsors
“Having a Big in our lives has helped my whole family.”
Natasha, Mom of a Little
“My Big Sister is always there for me when I need her.”
Little Sister
“Being a Big Brother has enriched my life.”
Ben, Big Brother
“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
“My Big Brother has taken me to visit several colleges and I’m excited to start applying.”
Little Brother
“My son is consciously making the right choices now to set himself up for whatever he decides to do.”
Family
“Now, oh my gosh, how my daughter has changed. She just has a better outlook on life.”
Family
“Children are our future. I like helping them realize their potential.”
Donor
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.
Carlos Barbosa
Wells Fargo
SVP/Loan Supervisor-Middle Market Commercial Banking
Loraine Brown, Foundation Board Chair
Vino Veritas Ventures
Founder & Owner
Kori Hattemer
Foundation Communities
Director of Prosper Programs
Shellie Hayes-McMahon
Planned Parenthood Texas Votes
Deputy Exec. Director of Operations & Development
Brandon Jones, PhD
The University of Texas at Austin
Assoc. Director for Student Learning & Development
Pamela Hurley
Philanthropist
Guillermo Martinez III, PhD
Austin Community College
Interim Vice President, Student Affairs
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.
Evan Spaulding, Board Chair
Lithified Technologies Texas, LLC
Chief Financial Officer
Becky Bonham
Hargill Growers Gin & Grain
Real Estate Developer
Lara Burns Boyda
Urbanspace
Chief Operating Officer
David Cardona
Strangeworks, Inc.
COO and General Counsel
Jayna Duke
O’Connell Robertson
Principal: Interior Design Practice Leader
Denver Dunlap
Denver Dunlap Real Estate
Owner/Broker
Art Guerra
Guerra Underground
Owner
Scott Haigler, Treasurer
RSM US LLP
Office Managing Partner
Shellie Hayes-McMahon
Planned Parenthood Texas Votes
Deputy Exec. Director of Operations & Development
Pamela Hurley
Philanthropist
Nicholas Johnson PhD
OpenJAUS
Chief Technical Officer
April Justice, Past Chair
Charles Schwab
Vice President
Lonnie Limon
Dieste, Inc.
Managing Director
Lynette Perkins
Bohemian Innovation, LLC
Chief Executive Officer
Pippa Song
ForestCircle Partners
Managing Partner
Albert Swantner, Chair Elect
Betterleave
VP of Engineering
Jason Vitanza
Shadow IT Services
Chief Technology Officer
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.
Blake Absher
Broadway Bank
Executive Vice President – Austin Market President
Darrell Bazzell
The University of Texas at Austin
Senior Vice President and CFO
Kyndel Bennett
Cayetano Development, LLC
Chief Executive Officer
Clayton Christopher
Entrepreneur
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
Kristie Gonzales
KVUE
President & General Manager
Kerry Hall
Texas Capital Bank
Advisory Board Member
Amy Jones
O’Connell Robertson
President
Nyle Maxwell
The Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships
Dealer Principal
Dick Rathgeber
Rathgeber Investments
President
Lawrence Speck
Page Southerland Page, Inc.
Senior Principal
Carl Stuart
Registered Investment Advisor
Tom Taylor
Taylor Investments
Principal
We will be there to provide ongoing support for your match!
Join other prospective mentors to learn the essentials for being a great volunteer Big.
Complete the Volunteer Application (following Step 1), which includes references and a thorough background check.
Complete the online enrollment application.
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.
Jenny Alperin, Connect 4 A Cause – Chair
RosePOP Parties
Owner & Event Planner
Jeff Burton, SantaCon – Chair
Burton Strategy Group
President
Ashley Cureton
Texas Assoc. of Counties
Wellness Consultant
Alejandro Espinoza
JB Goodwin Realtors
Real Estate Agent/Broker
Nicholas Johnson
OpenJAUS, LLC
Chief Technology Officer
Brandon Jones
The University of Texas at Austin
Assoc. Director for Student Learning & Development
Sarah Lozano
The University of Texas at Austin
Graduate Student – Plant Biology
Nell McKnight
Driftwood Recovery
Case Manager
Niyoshi Mehta
Miracle Foundation
Director of Global Programs
Rena Muñoz
Hawk Contracting Services, LLC
Owner
Ali Nichols
Bound
Customer Success Manager
Kellyn Platek
KIPP Texas Public Schools
Manager, Teacher Career Pathways
Shawna Reding
KVUE Media
Director of Digital Content
Lauren Roche, Vice President
Google Cloud
Professional Services
Stefan Sinclair
Certain Affinity
Software Development Engineer
Jenna Sliter
Yeti
Creative Operations & Resource Manager
Karen Vilches, Treasurer
Agora Systems Inc.
Executive Assistant
Jared Wynne, President
WIN
Co-founder & Editor-in-Chief
Yagiz Yildiz
Dell
Principal Electrical Engineer
We’ll set up a Match Introduction meeting to get your match started!
We’ll set up a time to get to know you so we can find the best match for you!
Learn more about the commitment and if it’s right for your child. You can reach us at 512-442-4646 or via email: info@bigmentoring.org.
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.
We’ll search carefully for a Big for your child. Try to be patient. It takes time to find a great match.
Learn about a potential Big and move forward if you approve the match.
We will introduce you and your child to your new Big. They will start spending time together and getting to know each other.