Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Names "Bigs of the Year"
Online, April 21, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Big Brothers Big Sisters is pleased to announce that Candy Conway and Tennessee Walker have been named Big Sister of the Year and Big Brother of the Year, respectively. The "Big of the Year" award recognizes outstanding volunteers who provide exceptional and life-changing impact to the children they mentor in their area. Candy and Tennessee were selected as winners in the Organization's Lone Star service area which includes all of North Texas, Central Texas and the great Houston area.
"The relationship Candy and Tennessee have with their 'Littles' is the epitome of what we hope to achieve for all of our matches," says Robert Roby, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star. "Their commitment to our program is truly inspiring. We are honored to have them on our team."
Candy Conway was selected as both Tarrant County's and Lone Star's Big Sister of the Year because of the tremendous long-term impact she has made in her little sister's life. In the eight years Candy and Charity have been matched, she has transformed from a shy loner who struggled to read, into an award-winning poet and writer who will be the first of her family to attend college. In addition to being a Big Sister, Candy is also currently a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters' Tarrant County Board of Directors. She is also leading efforts to recruit fellow AT&T employees for the mentor2.0 program in Fort Worth.
Tennesse Walker was chosen as Lone Star's Big Brother of the Year not only for the difference he has made in his little brother's life, but also for his desire to educate and recruit others in his professional industry. Tennessee has been a Big Brother for nearly three years. In that time he has worked tirelessly to recruit new Bigs and cultivate donors throughout Tarrant County's legal community, including organizing a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for members of the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association.
Each year, regional winners from across Big Brothers Big Sisters' 60-county service areas are automatically nominated for Lone Star awards. Winners of that selection process move on to statewide Big Brothers Big Sisters award recognition held in the Spring; and Texas winners will be eligible for national awards selected by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children ("Littles") with screened volunteer mentors ("Bigs") and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 85-year history. Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star serves over 30,000 children, volunteers and families through 20 offices and over 100 counties in Texas. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life - donate or volunteer at bbbstx.org.