FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Out of more than 230 agencies across the country, BBBSKY is one of just 40 organizations to receive this recognition.
Contact: Bryce Shreve, Marketing & Communications Manager
Bryce.Shreve@bbbsky.org | 812-987-3344
For more info on the impact and outcomes of youth mentoring, check out the BBBS Harvard study.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Big Brothers Big Sister of Kentuckiana (BBBSKY) has been recognized as a Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) Growth Award Winner for program excellence in 2024. This marks the organization’s third-consecutive national award, and its second-straight Growth Award.
Every year, the BBBSA Nationwide Leadership Council, made up of local agency leaders and board members, selects agencies for excellence in the organization’s signature 1-to-1 youth mentoring program. Out of more than 230 agencies across the country, BBBSKY is one of 40 organizations to receive this top honor.
The Growth Award recognizes agencies that have demonstrated strategic growth in the number of mentors (“Bigs”) and youth (“Littles”) matched through the program, year over year. Over the past year, BBBSKY has served 724 youth and young adults ages 7-25 and grown its local services by 15%.
The agency took time to celebrate the award with Bigs, Littles, and their families this week at the “Big Event,” the agency’s largest annual activity designed to foster a sense of community for program participants and families on the waiting list. This year’s Big Event was an “Aloha” at the YMCA Calypso Cove Water Park.
“I am incredibly proud of our board and staff for their dedication to expanding mentorship opportunities for young people in Kentucky and Southern Indiana,” said Gary Friedman, CEO of BBBSKY. “Their commitment to growing our matches ensures that even more children have access to life-changing relationships. This achievement reflects the power of mentorship and the impact we can create together in building a brighter future for our community.”
For over 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been dedicated to advancing equity, impact, and growth across the organization, making a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Today, the organization creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships, helping build self-confidence and emotional well-being and empowering young people on a path to graduate with a plan for their futures and a mentor whose impact can last a lifetime.
“Growth isn’t just about numbers—it’s about increasing the reach and impact of mentorship,” said Artis Stevens, President and CEO of BBBSA. “Kentuckiana has demonstrated an incredible commitment to expanding opportunities for young people who need us most by matching more volunteers and serving more youth than ever before. Their efforts to engage diverse mentors reflect their deep belief that every young person deserves a champion in their corner. We celebrate their leadership and the lasting impact they’re creating.”
ABOUT BBBSKY
Founded in 1967, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana is part of the largest and most experienced youth mentoring network in the United States, connecting caring adult volunteers with young people in need of a mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based mentorship programs—from our 1-to-1 caring mentor relationships to our broader ecosystem of community programming—help equip young people with skills, confidence, and positive relationships to empower them to achieve their full potential. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana is dedicated to empowering the potential of youth throughout the 10 counties we serve across Kentucky (Jefferson, Shelby, Oldham, Bullitt, Hardin, Grayson, and Nelson) and Southern Indiana (Clark, Floyd, and Harrison). For more information, visit www.bbbsky.org.
