2022 Impact Report - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga

2022 IMPACT REPORT

Building Relationships. Changing Lives.

Chief Executive Officer Jessica Whatley at the Inaugural City of Potential Awards Breakfast, launched in 2022.

JESSICA WHATLEY

CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga

We are excited to present our 2022 Impact Report and share with you the progress and accomplishments of our BBBS family over the past year.

Last year we left our home on 2015 Bailey Avenue to work in our homes while we renovated and expanded it to become the Warner Mentoring Hub. This hub allows us to better support and supervise our matches through enhanced communication and collaboration between our staff, volunteers, and families. We are proud to have this state-of-the-art facility as a central hub for our agency, which enables us to continue providing top-quality mentoring services to our community.

We celebrated the power of mentoring through our brand new City of Potential Awards event. This annual breakfast celebrates the power of mentoring and recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Chattanooga through mentorship. We were thrilled to see so many members of our community come together to support our organization and celebrate the positive impact of mentoring.

As a team, we were excited to be recognized as one of Edge Magazine’s Best Places to Work, an honor that recognizes our commitment to fostering a supportive and positive work environment for our dedicated team. We know that our people are the backbone of our agency, and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication to our mission.

In 2022, we continued to focus on longer, stronger matches, and we have seen remarkable success in achieving this goal. Over 80% of our Community-Based matches were together for more than a year, a testament to the dedication and commitment of our volunteer mentors and the positive impact they have on the lives of our youth.

We continued to provide support and engagement opportunities for our parents through events such as bi-monthly parent engagement activities and our annual BBBS family picnic. These initiatives have strengthened the relationships between our agency and our families and helped create a positive and supportive environment for our youth.

We are proud to announce that we awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to former Littles this year, allowing them to pursue their college education and reach their full potential. We currently have 18 scholarship students from across Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky, and we are committed to supporting them as they work towards their academic goals.

As we look ahead to the future of BBBS and our youth, we remain dedicated to our mission of improving the lives of young people in our community through mentoring. We know that every individual who steps up to be a mentor or supporter can make a significant difference in the life of a child, and we encourage all of you to consider becoming a part of our mentoring family.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga, and we look forward to working together to create even more opportunities for our youth in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

OUR AGENCY

For 66 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As a member agency of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, we make meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18 and beyond, in Hamilton, Marion, Bradley, Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people in our community.

MISSION

Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

VISION

All youth achieve their full potential.

OUR TEAM

Liane Cooper

Enrique Davey

Shari Driscoll

Edward Ellis, III

Tina Franklin

Amber Hoyle

Leah Hutchison

Sarah Kaufmann

Ansley Kuneman

Angelica Moline

Russell McBride

Haile Nottage

Abigail Ortega

Eli Smith

LaMonte' Solomon

Jessica Whatley

Chief Operations Officer

Program Manager

Match Support Specialist

Diversity Partnerships Manager

Quality Assurance Manager

Chief Program Officer

Match Support Specialist

Enrollment & Matching Specialist

Community Relations Manager

Match Support Specialist

Enrollment & Recruitment Manager

Big Futures Manager

Enrollment & Matching Specialist

Development & Marketing Manager

Program Specialist

Chief Executive Officer

$500,000+ IN SCHOLARSHIPS

Since 1983

20,000+ MATCHES SERVED

Since 1957 13 SCHOOLS SERVED In 2022

RACE/ETHNICITY OF LITTLES

OURPROGRAMS

Our programs foster positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people and their mentors.

COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING

Mentoring that takes place in the community

SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING

Mentors meet with their Little at a school or after school site

BEYOND SCHOOL WALLS

Workplace mentoring – Mentors meet with their Little at their corporate office

E-MENTORING

Technology-based mentoring focused on career and college preparation

Youth are mentored by law enforcement to build bridges of understanding BIGS IN BLUE

READING TO LEARN

Youth (grades K-3) are mentored in a literacy-focused school-based program

Big Sister Linda & Little Sister McKenzie. Matched since March 2022.

REPORTED NO INVOLVEMENT OR DECREASED JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT AFTER BEING MATCHED 100%

EMPOWERING POTENTIAL

90% 99%

SEE THEIR BIG AS A VERY IMPORTANT ADULT IN THEIR LIFE

If I never met Alyse, I don't think I would look at life the way I do now. I am forever grateful for all the lessons she has taught me. She has made me realize that just because things are bad right now, doesn't mean they will be this way I'm strong, and part of the reason for me being so strong is because of Alyse.

- LITTLE SISTER AUTUMN

Big Sister Alyse & Little Sister Autumn, 2023 Big Sister and Little Sister of the Year. Matched since March 2016.

Big Brother Percy & Little Brother Herman. Matched since December 2021.

2022 FINANCIALS

A little makes a BIG difference. It's your gifts that keep us going and enable us to create and support more mentoring relationships. So you have every right to know how it is used. Our annual financial report is based on our fiscal year, January 2022 to December 2022. Being good stewards of the gifts of our donors in supporting mentoring is our priority and our annual audit was completed by Johnson, Murphey, and Wright. A copy of our 990 and Audit are available on our website at www.bbbschatt.org. We hope you continue to join us in defending the potential of our youth through your gifts.

REVENUE

SPECIAL EVENTS

UNITED WAY IN-KIND

OTHER GRANTS

INDIVIDUAL/CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS * ENDOWMENT TRANSFERS

*Includes Capital Campaign Donations

TOTAL

EXPENSES

PROGRAMS MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISING

TOTAL

Family Match: Veatrice & Violet, Little Sister Kennedi. Matched since June 2021.

BIGRELATIONSHIPS

Each time Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs a child with a role model, we start something incredible: a one-to-one relationship built on trust and friendship that can blossom into a future of unlimited potential.

JASON, SANDRA, & HAVEN | MATCHED SINCE 5.5.16

2023 Big Couples Match of the Year

Jason and Sandra Neal have been matched with their Little Brother, Haven, since May of 2016. As part of BBBS's Big Couples program, Jason and Sandra are able to both serve as Bigs to one Little, which allows them to spend time with their Little while spending time together as a family. When they were first matched with Haven, they thought he was quiet – but they have since developed a deep bond with him and have enjoyed seeing him come out of his shell over their years of friendship. Haven has described his Bigs as kind, supportive, and fun. Jason, Sandra, and Haven have also been recognized as 2023's Big Couples Match of the Year.

TODD & CAMRON | MATCHED SINCE 10.30.17

2023 Big Brother and Little Brother of the Year

"Upon entering the BBBS program, I was worried about what I had to offer to help inspire and empower a young man. I tried to envision what it would be like if the roles were reversed. In doing that, I said to myself that I would not be open to anyone that I really didn’t know, so I sought out to earn Camron’s trust. After being committed and spending more time with him, I felt we both trusted each other.

Now, I look forward to attending Cam’s baseball games, visiting on his birthdays, and Christmases for years to come. He is getting older now and will have to quietly exit the BBBS program soon, but I foresee our relationship carrying on for as long as he desires. He has really become a part of my family, and perhaps one day, he will be in the role that I currently hold to hope fully be a Big and provide inspiration for another young man."

— BIG BROTHER TODD

CONTINUED growth

TARA WIESE Board President & Big Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga

What a year it has been! We have had an amazing year filled with expansion and growth, and we couldn't have done it without your continued support of our mission to defend and support the potential of youth in our area.

As a two-time big sister, I have seen first-hand the incredible impact that mentoring can have on a child's life. And with the help of our amazing team and dedicated volunteers, we have built meaningful relationships between Bigs and Littles in our community that have lasted a lifetime.

But we couldn't have done this work without the love and support of our Chattanooga community! We want to give a huge shoutout to the Big Deals List partners because it has been a vital tool in supporting these matches. The list offers free and discounted opportunities for Bigs to engage with their Littles in fun and meaningful ways.

As we continue to grow, we are committed to expanding our 18+ programming to equip all our Littles with the skills they need to thrive in education, employment, and beyond our traditional programs.

And that's not all! We are so thrilled to announce the opening of our new Warner Mentoring Hub, an innovative space where we can train and support our volunteers, youth, and families. We hope this new space will attract even more caring adults to our cause, and continue the incredible legacy of those who came before us. We would love for you to come visit us there sometime!

Looking ahead to the next year, we are excited about the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead! With your continued support, we can expand our programming in creative ways and reach even more children who need mentorship.

Thank you again for your generous and unwavering support. Together, we can build a better and brighter future for the youth of Greater Chattanooga.

With gratitude and excitement,

THE WARNER MENTORING HUB

The completion of construction on the Warner Mentoring Hub signifiies a significant step towards expanding our mentoring programs. This new space is more than just a building; it represents our commitment to providing more youth with mentors to unleash their potential. The facility's 950 square feet of additional space includes a lobby area, a private room for interviews, a conference and training room to enhance mentor training opportunities, and a learning lab equipped with laptops for Littles to work on homework or college applications. With this expansion, we aim to serve 400 children in 2023 and increase participation to 600 children by 2025.

SERVING YOUTH BEYOND AGE 18

Thanks to our new partnership with the Maclellan Foundation, we have expanded our services through the Big Futures Program to serve young adults beyond age 18. We launched the this program to address young people from ages 17-25 – a critical age which can be a unique time to explore options and take steps toward what you want to do, and who you want to become. Designed for young adults after "graduation" from the traditional Big Brothers Big Sisters 1:1 match program, this initiative assists alumni Littles as they pursue education in college/university or trade school, enlistment in the military, and/or living wage employment.

ENGAGING FAMILIES

Thanks to the generosity of EMJ Construction, BBBSGC was able to provide laptops to 30 Littles in 2022, strengthening connections with the families we serve. To further decrease the digital divide, we enrolled 60 youth for a free wireless hot spot through a national partnership with T-Mobile. In December, our agency partnered with local law enforcement for the "Shop with a Cop" event for matches at one of our partner schools. Parents, Littles, and their Bigs were invited to attend a shopping spree courtesy of Chattanooga Police Department, all while having positive interactions with law enforcement. Partnerships like these are allowing our agency to strengthen bonds and build trust with families in our program.

DEFENDPOTENTIAL

Become a Defender of Potential. Discover the many ways in which you can support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga, and empower Chattanooga's youth to realize their full potential. No gift is too Big or too Little.

OUR BOARD

Tara Wiese

Kimberly Bowen

Susan McGehee

Chip Allen

Ricky Thomas

Tory Johnston

Barret Albritton

Cyndi Allen

Heather Collins

Kristin Copeland

Brandon Deering

Malcolm Harris

Sonya Jaffar

Dionne Jenkins

Dr. Kirk Kelly

Erich Murray

Rob Robinson

Tracey Smith

Anna Turley

Rashaad Williams

Kathi Grant Willis