Celebrating 50 Years of Mentoring

Today marks a new day for Big Brothers Big Sisters. We are reimagining our brand, from our look to our language. We are focused on an empowering message: Together, We Are Defenders of Potential. Our new brand is urgent, inclusive, and powerful. We ask people of all ages and backgrounds to step up and ignite potential within every young person. Check out our new look on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter and learn more about our reimagined brand by clicking here. Together, let’s clear a path to a child’s biggest possible future.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County is honored to celebrate Marilyn Gibson Young as our first Women Who Move the City Wednesday (WWMTC) Honoree!  With a strong commitment to community, Marilyn began volunteering with the Stop the Violence Coalition in 2007 and has served as a Buffalo Peacemaker, Fundraising Committee Member and Vice Chairwoman. With a passion for working youth, and a heart that wanted to see a decrease in youth violence in the City of Buffalo, Marilyn brought together like-minded women over 5 years ago to create W. A.V.E -Women Against Violence Everywhere, an anti-violence organization that takes a proactive approach to help decrease youth violence by way of mentoring programs, events and activities. The organization focuses on violence issues impacting girls ages…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County (BBBSEC) received a grant of $37,950 from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation to upgrade the organization’s outdated technology. Professional case management is critical to creating safe and long-lasting mentoring relationships. This technology upgrade strongly enhances the ability for BBBSEC’s professional case management to support and accurately document these relationships. “We were so very pleased to have the support of the foundation for a request that is very unique for an agency like ours,” shared Thomas Guagliardo, CEO of BBBSEC. “Our organization provides relationship support to hundreds of mentoring matches. To properly track these relationships and record outcomes, it’s very important we have a technology system that is up to date and efficient. Unfortunately, these are not the types…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County and Media Sponsor Kiss 98.5 & Janet Snyder are excited to celebrate Shannon Sommer as today’s Women Who Move the City Wednesday Honoree! Shannon demonstrates a strong passion for helping others, especially children. Shannon is a volunteer Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County (BBBSEC). Shannon has been matched with her Little Sister, Christina, since May of 2014. She spends a lot of time with her Little Sister doing fun new activities, while providing support and general guidance on life. They enjoy cooking, swimming and doing crafts. Shannon also is instilling in Christina the importance of giving back. This past summer they participated in “Walk Off Hunger” to benefit the Food Bank of WNY. Shannon loves being…

Do you know a woman who is making a BIG difference in our community?  We are currently seeking nominations of outstanding women serving as volunteers throughout WNY for our 2018 Women Who Move the City Honorees. For more information and to submit a nomination, click here. Nominations are due by Wednesday, February 14th at 5pm. Celebrate the 2018 Women Who Move the City Honorees with an evening filled with networking, one of a kind shopping from a variety of local vendors, food and drinks! Wednesday, May 2, 2018 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Hotel Lafayette, Buffalo, NY Early Bird tickets are only $40 (purchase before April 15th)! To purchase your ticket online – click here or reserve your ticket by calling (716) 873-5833, ext. 245. For…