Our Mission
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is to help children reach their full potential through professionally supported, one-to-one, volunteer mentoring relationships with measurable impact.
We achieve our mission by
- providing youth (Littles) with an adult friendship that is consistent, ongoing, supportive, educational, safe and fun;
- supplying mentors (Bigs) with the resources and support they need to be effective mentors to at-risk youth; and
- enhancing the ongoing relationship (Match) between a Big and a Little with intentional activities and asset-building opportunities.
In 2011, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado will support approximately 2,040 mentoring relationships in the Denver and Pikes Peak Area. We know from research that we impact children by:
- Improving sense of self and future
- Improving relationships
- Improving attitudes towards school and academic performance
- Helping kids avoid delinquent behavior
Our Vision
To transform student success through mentoring.
Inclusiveness Statement
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is dedicated to implementing inclusiveness as a tool to strengthen and enrich every aspect of our organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado continually strives to meet the needs and reflect the diversity of the communities we serve by valuing and respecting the individuality of all our employees, volunteers, board members, children, families and community partners.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado strives to make all personnel decisions without regard to race, creed, age, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, gender, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, arrest record, or any other protected class as required by applicable law. All employees are expected to actively support these principles and objectives in our work environment and with others with whom we come into contact.
Agency Core Values:
Committed to Excellence
Community-Minded
Service-Oriented
Accountable
Inclusive
A Place of Dynamic Learning
History
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been the national leader in youth mentoring since its founding in 1904 in New York City. In Colorado, our history began in 1918 with Claude Blake, chief probation officer in Denver, who watched wartime conditions cause an increase in lawlessness among boys in his community. Recognizing that these boys needed guidance more than critics, Blake established Big Brothers of Denver.
- The Big Sisters movement was active in Denver from 1921 until about early 1964. A few years later, in the spring of 1969 Big Sisters of Colorado began as a program out of the Southwest Community Center.
- The Big Brothers Big Sisters-Pikes Peak was formed in 1967 as a program of Family Counseling Service. Later, the program became affiliated with the Pikes Peak YMCA.
- In 1996 Big Brothers of Denver merged with Big Sisters to become Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Colorado. In 1997 it became Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, Inc.
- In 2001 the organization merged with Big Brothers Big Sisters-Pikes Peak.
Currently operating out of offices in Denver and Colorado Springs, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is the largest youth mentoring agency in the state. Throughout our history, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado has helped young people overcome tremendous obstacles to become stable, successful adults.
Agency Leadership
Board of Directors
|
Ressie Barrett John Barry Jim Bickell Lindsay Brown Greg Byles Stephen Dietrich Lynn Bolinske Dolven Barry Dorfman Jeff Finnin Steve Foster David Gardner Byron Grandy (Vice Chair)
|
Peter Karpinski Luke Lands Margot Langstaff Tony LeVeque Steve Lockton Thomas Maddox, MD Peter Maiurro Marvin McDaniel (Past Chair) Brad McQueen C. Omar Montgomery Lori O'Flaherty (Treasurer)
Ken O'Neal (Secretary) Stef Petryszyn Jim Qualteri |
Chip Roehrig Bill Rooney Albert Rosenthaler Ken Ross (Past Chair) John Seaberg Steven Sommers Dave Stalls Diane Stanek (Chair) Carla Stewert Mike Strugar Paul VanDenBosch Paul Washington Bert Williams |
President's Advisory Council
|
Brad Busse Ron Cattany Noel Ginsburg Bill Gold |
Brian Jackson Doak Jacoway Gary Lutz Ned Minor |
William O'Connell Kevin O'Hara Brenda Rivers Ron Williams |
Associate Board: Denver
| Elissa Banker Pearl Izumi |
Emily Greene UMB Bank |
Jackie Snyder Paragon Audit & Consulting, Inc. |
| Jamie Barruita Eating Recovery Center |
Amy Beth Herman Sogeti USA |
Terry Switz Bank of the West |
| Robert Berger EchoStar |
Bryan Howe Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman P.C. |
Miki Tynan Van Gilder Insurance |
| Errol Brown CoBank |
Ron Lottridge Lockton Companies |
Craig Walsh Denver Broncos |
| Kelly Burgesser Hogan Lovells |
Jennifer Nelson Teletech |
Jennifer Wheaton Grant Thornton |
| Monica Coughlin Governor's Office of Information Technology |
Nathan Oatman GHP Howarth |
Cashin White JP Morgan Chase Bank |
| Keith Dauper Boathouse Sports |
Mikaela Rivera Waas Campbell Rivera LLP |
Sudee Mirsafian Wright Husch Blackwell |
| Malcolm Evans Vectra Bank |
Chris Scheer Magnolia Hotels |
Community Board: Pikes Peak
| Beth Bourgeois USOC Paralympics Division |
George Harris GE Johnson |
Curtis Olson Consultant |
| David Gardner, Treasurer Great Western Bank |
Tony Leveque , Board Chair Central Bank & Trust |
Tom Saponas Retired |
| Delilah King Booz Allen Hamilton |
Peter Maiurro, Vice-Chair El Pomar Foundation |
William White Wal-Mart |
Get Connected!
Been involved but lost touch? Want to be in the know about Big Brothers Big Sisters? To receive updates about programs, activities and events, please call 303-433-6002 ext 511 in Denver or 719-633-2443 in Pikes Peak to learn how.
