Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is excited to announce its 35th Birthday Celebration this November, marking more than three decades of empowering and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships in our community. As part of this milestone celebration, The Arby's Foundation is matching all donations made in November, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000. This is a remarkable opportunity for our supporters to double their impact. As we celebrate being "35 & Thriving," we reflect on our deep roots
The University of West Florida welcomed 20 Pensacola High School juniors to its Pensacola campus on October 9th for the launch of the Beyond School Walls program at UWF, a workplace mentoring initiative by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. The two-year program pairs students with volunteer UWF faculty and staff mentors to help them build the confidence and skills needed to succeed in post-secondary education, vocational training, and the workforce. During the school year, students will visit
Are you a Federal employee or retiree? Then GIVE HAPPY to us through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) by visiting givecfc.org and using the charity code 15455. One of the great benefits of the CFC is that you can give through payroll deduction or through your retiree annuity, giving a little each pay period and supporting our mission all year long. It's amazing to see how giving a little from each paycheck adds up to so much happiness when we give together.Give Happy!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is thrilled to announce our new Governing Board of Directors leadership. We are proud to have a compassionate and dedicated group of individuals who are committed to doing whatever it takes to help change children's lives for the better and with their guidance, we are confident we will continue to thrive and reach new heights. Our staff is eager to work alongside this exceptional team to set and achieve our goals for the coming fiscal year and beyond. Please
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, along with the West Florida Wheelmen Bicycle Club, present the annual Fenner Ride on Oct. 26, 2024. This cycling event gives riders a unique chance to experience Northwest Florida's native wildlife, natural environments, and beautiful scenery along the Blackwater Heritage Trail. The ride will start at 7:30 a.m. the Clyde L. Gracey Community Center, located at 5629 Byrom St. Milton, Fla. Participants of all skill levels will have the opportunity to choose the
We are beyond thrilled to announce Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has won Best Charity/Non-Profit in VIP Pensacola's 'Best in Pensacola' contest! This incredible honor wouldn't have been possible without the support of our amazing community. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for us. Your belief in our mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships is what makes our work so impactful. Together we are building brighter futures for our Littles. Big
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida proudly announces Shawn Hall as the recipient of the 2024 Escambia County Big of the Year Award. Shawn's unwavering dedication to mentorship and exceptional commitment have profoundly impacted his Little Brother, culminating in this distinguished honor. With a remarkable 30-year career in the United States Marine Corps, Shawn seamlessly transitioned from military service to mentorship, continuing to make a significant difference in the lives of others. When
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is proud to announce Billy Merrill Eggart, Superintendent at D.R. Horton Homes, as the recipient of the 2024 Beyond School Walls Big of the Year Award. Billy's steadfast dedication to mentorship and community engagement has significantly impacted the lives of local youth, exemplifying the spirit of service and leadership. The Beyond School Walls program, through which Billy has been an extraordinary mentor, aims to empower students by providing invaluable
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida proudly announces Jacqueline Crow as the recipient of the 2024 Virginia Thomas Big of the Year award in Bay County. This prestigious accolade is given to a Big who has made an exceptional difference in their Little's life, embodying the core values and mission of our organization. Jacqueline and her Little Sister Naomi have shared a remarkable bond since being matched in 2020. Despite the challenges of her military career, Jacqueline has consistently made time
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is proud to announce eight local students in our mentoring programs will receive scholarships through a generous award program, paving the way for their higher education journey. This incredible opportunity comes through a collaboration between Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. Last year, FPL joined forces with the Foundation to award $4.2 million in college scholarships to students from the state's most
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida proudly announces Orlando Navedo as the recipient of the 2024 Ronald Mobayed Military Big of the Year award. This prestigious accolade is awarded to a Big who has made an exceptional impact on their Little's life. Orlando, a Defense Paralegal for the U.S. Navy, has been a dedicated mentor to his Little Brother Bryan since they were first matched in February 2023. The two immediately bonded, and Bryan expressed a desire to enhance his basketball skills. Orlando
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida proudly announces Orlando Navedo as the recipient of the 2024 Ronald Mobayed Military Big of the Year award. This prestigious accolade is awarded to a Big who has made an exceptional impact on their Little's life. Orlando, a Defense Paralegal for the U.S. Navy, has been a dedicated mentor to his Little Brother Bryan since they were first matched in February 2023. The two immediately bonded, and Bryan expressed a desire to enhance his basketball skills.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida proudly announces Lieutenant Chris Coram as the recipient of our 2024 Bigs with Badges Big of the Year award. This prestigious accolade celebrates Lieutenant Coram's exceptional dedication to fostering trust, respect, and mentorship within our community through his involvement in our Bigs with Badges program. The Bigs with Badges initiative serves as a vital bridge between the youth of our community and those who protect, serve, and support us through their
Is your Birthday around the corner? Looking to add some beachy vibes to your ride? Look no further! This year, when you renew your tags, grab a Big Brothers Big Sisters license plate featuring a picturesque beach scene. Not only will you be cruising in style, but you'll also be supporting our mission. With each BBBS license plate sold, $25 goes directly towards our one-to-one mentoring programs, driving positive change for kids in our community. Let's transform every journey into an opportunity to make a
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida proudly announces Larry Gillespie as the recipient of the 2024 Big Brother of the Year for the State of Florida! This prestigious award recognizes Larry's outstanding dedication and commitment to fostering a meaningful relationship with his Little Brother, Zorrian, over the span of 8 years. Larry has been a transformative force in Zorrian's life, helping him come out of his shell and instilling confidence through a variety of shared experiences. Their bond has
In alignment with National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters is launching a call to action for Northwest Florida to help close the mentorship gap for local youth. It's critical, now more than ever, to continue expanding mentorship's reach so that every child, regardless of their circumstances, receives the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Currently, one in three kids in America are growing up without a sustained, positive adult mentor in their lives, and over 30,000 young
Elevate your style while making a difference! We are excited to announce a dazzling opportunity: For a donation of $100, you will be entered for a Chance to Win a $5,000 shopping spree at Beré Jewelers in Pensacola. All proceeds will support our mission to empower youth through mentoring relationships. The winner will be announced at The Big Gala: Cosmic Connections, Presented by the Pensacola Ice Flyers, on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Hilton Pensacola Beach.You do not have to be present to win. Click here to
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is celebrating 34 years of empowering youth and strengthening communities with a special celebration. In a powerful collaboration, the Arby's Foundation has pledged to match all donations dollar for dollar, up to an incredible $30,000 throughout the month of November. This generous gesture amplifies the impact of every contribution, making it a pivotal moment for supporters to get involved. "Turning 34 is a significant milestone for us," remarked Paula Shell,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has launched a bold new brand campaign "It Takes Little to be Big," to challenge the myths and shift perceptions of mentoring and why now, more than ever, mentorship is critical to the success of kids today. Today, one in three kids across the country are growing up without a sustained, positive adult mentor in their lives and over 100 kids are on the wait list for a mentor in Northwest Florida. The gap between mentorship and youth who need it most
We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target's donation to us! Now through September 30th, vote for us through the Target Circle program to help determine how Target's donation will be divvied up. To join Target Circle and learn more about this program, click here: www.target.com/circle. We are asking
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, along with the West Florida Wheelmen Bicycle Club, present the annual Fenner Ride on Oct. 28, 2023. This cycling event gives riders a unique chance to experience Northwest Florida's native wildlife, natural environments, and beautiful scenery along the Blackwater Heritage Trail. The ride will start at the Clyde L. Gracey Community Center, located at 5629 Byrom St. Milton, Fla. Participants of all skill levels will have the opportunity to choose the course that
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is excited to announce Pensacola Cordova Rotary selected us to partner with them for their District grant application. The project, Back to School - Lace Up 4 Kids, will provide shoes and socks for our Littles, as they are returning to school. Proper footwear plays a significant role in enabling children to attend school comfortably and confidently. Thanks to this partnership, we can make sure our Littles are better prepared for their academic journey. On
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is proud to announce George Gilman as the recipient of the 2023 Virginia Thomas Big of the Year award in Bay County! This award is given to a Big who has made an exceptional difference in their Little's life. George was matched with his Little Brother Drionte in September of 2016. Over the past six years, their relationship has faced many challenges, including living miles apart. Drionte's family moved to the Marianna area, following Hurricane Michael, but
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is proud to announce John Holguin as the 2023 Okaloosa County Big of the Year! This award is given to a mentor who goes above and beyond and is dedicated in helping their Little learn, grow and reach their full potential. John has provided mentorship and friendship to his Little Brother Isaiah for over two years. They enjoy all types of activities together, including disc golf, working on John's family farm, boating and sporting events. In addition, they've
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is grateful to have Alisha Lambert as part of our family and is ecstatic to present her with the 2023 Escambia County Big Sister of the Year award. This award is given to a Big Sister who goes above and beyond and has shown dedication in making sure their Little reaches their full potential. Alisha has demonstrated unwavering dedication and commitment to our program. She has been a Big Sister for over seven years and is a wonderful role model to her Little
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is proud to announce Kenon Beasley as the recipient of the 2023 Big Brother of the Year award in Escambia County. Kenon was selected to receive this honor due to his dedication in mentoring three Little Brothers. Kenon has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for over ten years and is a current mentor to three Little Brothers. He was matched with Apricio in 2012, Richard in 2021, and Zayshawn in 2022. This is a huge commitment and one that Kenon takes very
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is proud to announce Ginny Cranor as the 2023 Beyond School Walls Big of the Year. Ginny Cranor is the Chief of the Pensacola Fire Department and is responsible for strategic planning, administration, and operation of 7 divisions, 6 fire stations, and more than 130 men and women. Chief Cranor has graciously shared her time by volunteering as a mentor with our Beyond School Walls program since the Spring of 2022. The Beyond School Walls program is aimed at
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is excited to announce we have been selected to benefit from a scholarship award program that will provide a pathway to college for ten local high school students and graduates, who are involved in our mentoring programs. Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is partnering with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation to award $4.2 million in college scholarships to students living in the most poverty-stricken zip codes in the state, providing 2-year scholarships
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is proud to announce Ken Morris has been named the Ron Mobayed Military Big of the Year for 2023. Ken was selected to receive this honor because of his commitment to helping his Little Brother Aundray learn, grow and reach his full potential. This award was established to honor the life of Lt. Ronald Joseph Mobayed, who was an outstanding Big Brother while he was stationed in Pensacola for flight training in the early 1990’s. Tragically, on October 3, 1995, Ron
This November, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is celebrating its 33rd Birthday! Since 1989, our agency has been providing one to one mentoring services for children in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay Counties. We are so thankful for the support and generosity we have received from this community for more than three decades and we couldn't do any of it without the help of our volunteers, donors and advocates. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida was established in