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DearfriendofBigBrothersBigSisters,
BigBrothersBigSistersofSt Lucie,IndianRiverandOkeechobee Countiesisproudtopresentour2023ImpactReport,sharingthe incredibleaccomplishmentsofouragencyinthethreecountieswe areblessedtoserve Wecreateandprovideprofessionalsupportfor one-to-onementoringrelationshipsthathelpthechildrenweserve reachtheirfullpotential Ourteamhasover150combinedyearsof serviceintheeducationandsocialservicesfields Wearecommitted toignitingthepowerandpromiseofouryouthbyhelpingthembe successfulinschoolandinlifebeyondtheclassroom
Asyoulookthroughthepagesofthisreport,pleasetakespecialnote ofthe20,302one-to-onementoringsessionsstatistic Thatnumber meansthatinjustoneyear,weprovidedtheequivalentofover500 fulldaysofmentoringandtutoring
Tobreakitdownfurther,eachofthe837individualchildren(Littles) weservedwereinamatchwithanadult(Big) ThesameBigmeets withtheirsameLittleeveryweekforatleastonehourof uninterruptedone-to-onetimetogethertoworkonliteracyskills, relationshipbuildingandplanningforthefutureoftheLittle Thisis nd the main ese dthe
BigBrothersBigSisters(BBBS)isthenation’slargestdonorandvolunteer-supported mentoringnetworkandhasbeencommittedtoignitingthepowerofyouthforover 100years.BBBSofSt.Lucie,IndianRiverandOkeechobeeCountieswasestablishedin 1984.
Thenonprofitcreatesmeaningful,monitoredmatchesbetweenadultvolunteers(Bigs) andchildren(Littles)ages4to18.
BBBSiscommittedtoempoweringeverychildonthepathtograduatewithaplanfor theirfutureandamentorwhoseimpactwilllastalifetime.
Mission:Createandsupportone-to-onementoringrelationshipsthatignitethepower andpromiseofyouth.
Vision:Allyouthachievetheirfullpotential.
MichaelLucci Chair
BethCoke ViceChair
LoriFry Secretary
KimMorgenstern Treasurer
MaryAliceBennett
AnthonyBonna
GayleHarrell
AmberWoods
DebbieHawley ChiefExecutiveOfficer
17yearsdefendingthepotentialofouryouth
DianaEmbick DirectorofMentoring 7years
MercadezEstime-Connelly MatchSupportSpecialist|St.LucieCounty 1year
MacaylahKhan CommunityDevelopmentSpecialist 1year
RebeccaLittleton READSProgramAssociate 2years
CristinaPaniagua
MatchSupportSpecialist|OkeechobeeCounty 15years
JaynePlatts CommunicationsConsultant 15years
ChristineRyall,PhD FamilyEngagementSpecialist 9.5years
MaryStowasser ProgramSupportSpecialist 6.5years
KariTankersley
MatchSupportSpecialist|IndianRiverCounty 14years
SamanthaTaylor READSProgramDirector 7years
837 children
351 grades K-2
54 grades 6-8
159 VPK
210 grades 3-5
63 grades 9-12
212 Bigs one-to-one mentoring sessions
27 READS members
20,302
402 children in St. Lucie County
376 children in Indian River County
2,678 take-home books
45 schools
59 childrenin OkeechobeeCounty
BBBSservesyouthages5through18inoneto-onementoringfriendships.Bigsand Littlesaretogetherinvariedsettings(more informationbelow)foratleastonehoura week.Eachmatchissupportedbya dedicatedmatchsupportspecialistineach countywhoprovidesresourcesandsupport specifictotheLittle’sage.BBBSoperates undertheNationalBBBSStandardsof Practice.BigBrothersBigSistersof America(BBBSA)regularlyupdatesthe ServiceDeliveryModel,providinga standardizedguidebasedonresearchand evidence.Theguideexplainsthebestways forBBBStoengageBigs,Littles,andparents orguardianstoachievesafe,long,and strongmatcheswiththebestpossible outcomesforLittles(fromthepointof enrollmenttomatchclosure).
School-basedmatchesmeetina designatedplacewithinthe school.
Community-basedmatchesmeet inlocalcommunityspaces.
BBBSReadsmembersprovidetutoringin aschoolorsite-basedmentoring programtoVPKthruthirdgrade studentstopracticetheirliteracyskills. Membersmeetwithstudentsthreetimes perweekfor30-minuteone-to-one sessionsatassignedschoolsitesfrom AugustthruJulyinthethreecounties. Membersreceivealivingallowance.VPK studentsenrolledintheprogramhave theopportunitytoparticipateinfamily literacynightsandweekendcommunity learningeventsatlocalsites,suchasthe VeroBeachMuseumofArt,theRiverside Children’sTheater,andthe EnvironmentalLearningCenterinVero Beach.READSalsopartnerswith communityorganizationstohostservice projects.
Site-basedmatchesinvolvestaff facilitatorsatspecificsites,such asaVPKprovidersite.
School-basedplusmatches combineelementsofbothschool andcommunitysettings.
Littles in 2022-2023 school-and-site-based program matches achieved:
93%increasedperformanceinoneormoreareas,includinggradesand conduct
98%werepromotedtothenextgradelevel
91%improvedpre-to-poststandardizedtestscores
92%ofstudentsinkindergartenthruthirdgradesshowedanincreasein readingscores
READS Program VPK students in 2022-2023 achieved:
93%werepreparedforkindergartenattheendoftheschoolyear
93%metorexceededexpectationsinatleastoneareaofchildhood development
Littles in 2022-2023 community-based matches achieved:
100%madeprogressontheirindividualizedYouthOutcomeDevelopment Plan
100%ofseniors(four)graduated
91%ofallmiddleandhighschoolLittleshaveaplaninplaceforlifebeyond graduation
100%ofthematchesparticipatedinanactivitynewtotheLittle
Students (grades K-3) working with READS members in 2022-2023 achieved:
97%improvedpre-to-post-testscores
86%improvedgrades
85%improvedattendance
86%improvedconduct
2021-2022:
Totalrevenue$1,528,594.00
Totalexpenses$1,244,126.00
2022-2023:
Totalrevenue$1,135,885.00
Totalexpenses$1,117,365.00
BBBSwasrecognizedasa2022Big BrothersBigSistersofAmericaGold StandardAwardwinner.BBBSwasoneof 26outof225agenciesacrossthecountry toreceivethistophonor.Thisprestigious awardrecognizesagenciesthathave increasedtheirrevenueandgrowntheir numberofmentors,withpartofthe criteriabeingfiscalresponsibility.
BBBSreceivedthe2023PlatinumSealof transparency.ThePlatinumSealisthe highestlevelofrecognitionofferedby Candid,formerlyknownasGuideStar, andisawardedtoorganizationsthat meetthehigheststandardsof transparencyandaccountability.Fewer thanonepercentofUnitedStates-based nonprofitshavebeenrecognizedwiththe PlatinumSealsinceitscreation..
AmeriCorpsFlorida
BigBrothersBigSistersofAmerica
BigBrothersBigSisters ofFlorida
*BradleyLorimier
TheCamp-YountsFoundation
Carol&BarneyBarnettFamilyFoundation
TheChildren’sMovementofFloridaReadingPals(TheGivewellCommunityFoundation andEarlyChildhoodInitiative,Inc.)
Children'sServicesAdvisoryCommitteeofIndianRiverCounty
Children'sServicesCouncilofSt.LucieCounty
Children'sServicesCouncilofOkeechobee
ComcastFoundation
*DaveandChrisSmith
*DavidandBonnieWilson
G.Research
*GeorgeandElkeFetteroff
GrandHarborCommunityOutreachProgram
Head,HeartandHandsofIndianRiverClub,Inc.
*HelenTaylorRobertson
TheJakeOwenFoundation
TheJohn'sIslandCommunityServiceLeague
TheKellyFamilyFoundation
KendacarFoundation,Inc.
*MelvinandLindaTeetz
QuailValleyCharities,Inc
TheRieflerFamilyFund
*RobertsonFamily
St.LuciePublicSchools
TheSchoolDistrictofIndianRiverCounty
TheOkeechobeeCountySchoolDistrict
TheThomasA.ScottCharitableFoundation
TheUnitedWayofIndianRiverCounty
TheUnitedWayofSt.LucieandOkeechobeeCounties
VolunteerFlorida
WalterS.BorisenokFamilyFoundation
*Theindividualslisteddonatedmorethan$5,000in2022-2023 Weareforevergratefulforthesupportofourdonors Withouttheirunwaveringsupport,BigBrothersBigSisters’missionwouldnotbeareality.Nodonationisevertoosmall.
