big sister OF THE YEAR

BIG SISTER: HOLLY DURSO LITTLE SISTER: AVIONNA “AVI”

The first time Holly met her Little Sister Avi, she was nervous. “I wanted her to like me, and I really wanted to get along well,” Holly shares. “I was nervous about my ability to be a Big Sister. I had some great training from the organization, but obviously being trained is different than going out and doing it.”

Holly, who is a project manager at an engineering consulting firm, says that she wanted to be a mentor because she has had them throughout her life. “I’ve had many different mentors at certain points,” says Holly. “I work in an industry that is very male dominated, so I gravitated toward strong female figures in companies that I worked for, and I’ve been fortunate that they’ve given so much time and energy and encouragement to me.” Holly wanted to offer that same support to a girl in Boston. Little did she know that her connection with Avi would build not only into a friendship, but into a true sisterhood.