2013 Giving Guide: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks

3372 W. Battlefield, Springfield, MO 65807
(417) 889-9136
www.bigbro.com
Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/BBBSOzarks?ref=hl
Total number of employees (FTE): 14

Annual revenues: $927,262

Executive Director/CEO: Katie Davis

Board President: Brooke Bigham, The Layman Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Board of Directors: Gary Gibson, President Elect, City Utilities;   
Dave Coble, Vice President, Springfield Remanufacturing Corp.; Becky Harmon, Treasurer, KPM CPAs; Marshall Kinne, Secretary, Med-Pay, Inc.; Tim Stack, Past President, Springfield Remanufacturing Corp.  

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Mission:
Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

Service Area:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks serves a 20 county region in Southwest Missouri.  We have satellite offices in Branson and Joplin.  The counties we serve are: St. Clair, Cedar, Hickory, Polk, Dallas, Laclede, Wright, Webster, Greene, Dade, Jasper, Newton, Lawrence, Christian, Douglas, Ozark, Taney, Stone, Barry, and McDonald.

Annual Events:
BBBSO signature events include Bowl for Kids' Sake, Battle fo the Badges, Taste of the Ozarks, and Ozarks Beerfest.  Businesses can get involved by forming a bowling team, donating auction items, sponsoring these events, and providing volunteers.

Funding:
Special Events 44.4%, Individual Contributions 22.2%, Grants 15.7%, United Way 11.6%, External Events 6.1%

How People and Businesses Can Help:
People & businesses can help by giving donations to help fund quality matches.  It costs $1,000 per year to create and support 1 high quality match between a volunteer and a child. This cost is essential in helping us find the right mentor; train them, support the relationship, and report the outcomes.

Volunteer Opportunities:
The public can volunteer by being Big Brothers, Big Sisters, or Big Couples. Bigs spend 6-8 hours a month for 1 year with their Little engaging in activities of interest to them such as playing basketball, baking cookies, or hiking.  We also have one-time volunteer opportunities at special events.

12 month Goals: 1) To improve the quality of matches by emphasizing longer and stronger matches. 2) Encouraging every mentor to commit to meeting one-to-one with a child for a minimum of one year. 3) To expand the Lunch Buddies program, currently in nine Springfield Public Schools, by encouraging local businesses to adopt nearby schools and provide volunteers and monetary support. 4) To have positive outcomes in the following three areas measured through our Youth Outcome Survey: Higher aspirations, great confidence and better relationships; Avoidance of risky behaviors; and educational success

Testimonial:
 
“It is important to tell you though that we could not have gotten through all of these hard times without BBBS! You guys have been so amazing to us! You were there for us when very few people were. My children are so much healthier emotionally and it is because of BBBS! Thank you again. I am forever grateful.”
-Mom of three Littles