Summer/Fall 2015

1229 S. St. Francis Drive, Suite C, Santa Fe, NM 87505 ● 505-983-8360 ● www.bbbsmountainregion.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region

In This Issue: Program Highlights, pg 2 ● 2015 Bowl for Kids’ Sake, pg 3 ● Youth Outcomes, pg 4 Executive Board Update, pg 5 ● Thank You Donors, pg 6 ● Capacity Campaign, pg 7

Welcome To The Mountain Region

Andrea Fisher Maril, CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region

Andrea Fisher Maril, CEO

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Summer/Fall 2015 | issue 9

Mountain Region

For the Better Forever: Even Better Together

Big Brothers Big Sisters 1-to-1 youth mentoring builds “soft” skills like grit, self-control, critical thinking, curiosity and resiliency in ways schools and families sometimes can’t. This helps keep kids in school, leading to higher graduation rates, better citizens and stronger communities. The end result: lives changed for the better, forever.

Since 1999 we’ve expanded from Santa Fe to Rio Arriba and Los Alamos, then Taos, and later San Miguel, Mora and McKinley and Colfax counties,

learning to mentor kids in rural Hispanic communities and Indian Country.

Last year board members from BBBS of Southwestern New Mexico requested that we combine efforts to better serve kids in Las Cruces and Silver City. That vision became reality on January 1, 2015 when we merged to become Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region.

It’s a new name, but the impact remains: starting incredible 1-to-1 relationships built on trust and friendship that can blossom into a future of unlimited potential. Together we have a combined 71 years of experience in pairing mentors (“Bigs”) with children of opportunity (“Littles”) ages five through eighteen.

The quality of our mentoring remains high: this summer Big Brothers Big Sisters of America named us as a Quality Award winner and we will be awarded the Santa Fe Community Foundation “Tried and True” Piñon Award in October. So does the scope. By centralizing financial and administrative services we’ll be able to match over a thousand kids in life-changing relationships with caring, committed, carefully screened mentors.

To our Bigs, families, donors, partners and staff up north and down south: thank you. We are truly far better together.

Los Alamos County

Edward Jacquez is a school based Big. Ed meets Little Brother Juan for lunch every Tuesday at Juan’s school. They enjoy drawing and building, and this year made a robotic arm together! “Cultivating friendship through art

comes natural to both Juan and I” says Ed “Juan’s ability to convert thoughts and ideas into renderings is unbelievable. He has met every challenge...and has stoked my creative fire. His potential is limitless and his smile is a game changer. The stars were truly aligned when I was introduced to my Little.”

Big Brother Steve Myers, and Little Brother Isaac, who just finished his sophomore year in high school, are both sports fans, and Steve can often be found cheering for Isaac during his basketball games. “It has been a total pleasure being a part of Isaac’s life.” Steve comments, “Isaac will go away to college and I’m going to miss him greatly.” If you’ve attended any of the last three Los Alamos golf tournaments, you have probably seen Steve and Isaac driving the water cart.

Santa Fe County

Alyssa Wilder has been Big to Kristina, now 18, for five years. “Alyssa and I met every Friday, and each week I would chant ‘Get here Friday!’ because I couldn’t wait to see her,” explains Kristina. As Kristina enters adulthood, Kristina knows they will not be spending as much time together as she explains,“I will always be there for her.”

Rick Adesso, told us, “I met Emmet [Rick’s Little] almost 6 years ago, a fairly quiet, somewhat withdrawn kid. He’s now a confident 14-year-old, does well in school, and plays soccer. It has been a real joy watching him grow into the confident kid he is now. We always enjoy our time together and we definitely

laugh a lot.”

Katrina Huffaker is a school based Big. “I feel very fortunate to be a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Genesis (Katrina’s Little) and I are a perfect match.” Katrina says “Genesis is not only beautiful, but very smart, kind, and brave. She asked me if I would always be her Big Sister and I told her ‘yes, until she grew up and went to college.’ She took my hand and we skipped down the hall.”

Doña Ana County

Big Brother Leif Benitez and his Little, Treant, like to read comics, build, and play card games. Leif is an engineering student at NMSU and the two can often be found in the engineering department doing cool projects together. Treant says, “my favorite thing about Leif is that he is nice, kind, and smart.”

Rio Arriba County

Big Sister Sarb Nam and Little Sister Eve enjoy swimming, bowling, going to the park and doing arts and crafts. Eve says that arts and crafts are one of her favorite things to do with her Big Sister. Sarb Nam tells us, “I love spending time with my Little Sister Eve… we’ve had some really cool adventures!” “I am so grateful to be part of Big Brothers Big Sister,” says Sarb, “I really appreciate the amazing support from the team of people [at BBBS] who make it so much fun to be a Big Sister.”

Great Matches Throughout the RegionEach year we seek nominations for Bigs of the Year, a prestigious award given to a mentor who has made a significant impact in the life of a Little. To be nominated a community based Big must be matched with a Little for at least 2 years, and a school based Big for at least 1 year. This year we have many great nominees throughout the Mountain Region.

Program Highlights

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Alyssa and Kristina

Rick and Emmett receiving BBBS recognition

Katrina and Genesis

Sarb Nam and Eve

Leif and Treant

Edward and Juan

Steve and Isaac

Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2015 Wrap up “Luau at the Lanes”

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Everyone likes an excuse to have a big party, especially when it helps Big Brothers Big Sisters in its mission to help every child fulfill his or her potential. This year bowlers donned their best hawaiian

shirts, sunglasses, and leis and came out to show their support!

The Rosemont Rollers

The Juntion Lai Hotties

Teams by county:Santa Fe: 49McKinley: 49Los Alamos/Rio Arriba: 18San Miguel: 6 NM State Employees: 19

Top Taem Fundraisers:Striking Tigers: $3,341 The Junction Lai Hotties: $2,455Rosemont Rollers: $2,265

Top Individual Fundraisers:Imelda Garcia: $3,126 (story on p.4)Robin Smith: $2,225Calvin Fields: $2,080

A True ChampionHave you ever wondered what makes someone a true champion? For a nonprofit organization, a champion is someone who will do whatever it takes to be successful. One such champion is Imelda Garcia. She seems to be on a mission to make the biggest difference possible through the Bowl for Kids’ Sake (BFKS) annual event.

Imelda has been involved with BFKS since 2007, and it’s become her passion. Whoever she meets, she solicits a pledge from them. Imelda recruits family members and friends to be on her team, and makes it clear that each of them is also expected to raise money on their own.

What’s her secret? Imelda doesn’t take “no” for an answer. She begins securing donations in January, and requires that anyone who does work for her - lawyer, roofer, repairman - has to “give back” by donating to BFKS. She also takes the time to personally call and thank each of her donors, telling them how much she raised to help kids reach their potential. “Imelda is a very giving person,” says Monica Martinez-Pringle, Chief Development Officer for BBBS Mountain Region, “we consider her one of our

top agency donors and beyond that, a great friend.”

Imelda is the grand prize winner this year and has earned first or second place every other for quite some time. This year she won a flat screen TV, but Imelda says “I don’t do it for the prize, it’s all about helping kids.”

Imelda believes in the mission of BBBS. “The benefit of matches is so essential,” says Imelda, “so many kids have no mentors in their lives and are being pushed in undesirable directions.”“This year I couldn’t bowl so I had my second cousin and family bowling,” Imelda explains “they are young so I hope they will carry on the tradition.”

Imelda raised $3,126 for 2015, taking her total BFKS donation to nearly $20,000 over the years. Her team, Striking Tigers, is the top team fundraiser for 2015. Her dedication and service to BBBS make Imelda a true champion.

Striking Tigers

2015 Luau at the Lanes

Striking Tigers - 2011 BFKS

Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region Youth Outcomes Survey Results

(7/1/14 - 6/30/15)

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Youth Outcomes Survey

How do our outcomes relate to long-term success?The areas measured in the Youth Outcomes Survey are linked to long-term outcomes that are important to families, communities, and our nation.

n=number of responses

Executive Board Update

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Executive Committee

Randy Dry, President Connor Browne, Past PresidentCarlos R. Gonzales, Vice PresidentHeather Brady, TreasurerGeno Zamora, Co-SecretaryAlan Overton, Co-Secretary

Members

Shannon Boniface Lee Cabeza de Vaca Elizabeth CavasosNancy DavisRenee GoshinLisa HeckerThomas OdaiAshlyn PerryTaryn Sandford Daniel Slavin

Regional Representatives

Yale Jones, Taos/Colfax Jim Liberty, Los Alamos/Rio ArribaRebecca Ostrovsky, McKinleyLucas Peerman, Doña Ana/Grant

Robin Smith, Executive Board Member from 1999-2015... Big Sister for Life!

Officially, Robin Smith was a Big Sister for nearly twelve years— unofficially, for a lifetime. She’s watched Little Sister Carrie grow from a shy seven-year-old into a beautiful young woman who is finishing her pre-nursing classwork at CNM. Robin is proud of their long relationship, and tells us “Carrie is 25 now and just gave birth to her first child!” Though her relation-ship with Carrie is perhaps her most important accomplishment with BBBS, Robin’s involvement doesn’t end there.

Since 1999, Robin has served on the Mountain Region Board of Directors. She says she’s been asked to serve on other boards, but her time was too dedicated to BBBS. “I’ve been so lucky to see how the organi-zation and the board have grown together, and it’s become so much stronger over the years.” Though sitting on an active board is a lot of work, Robin says the other board members also made it fun, “we remind ourselves what it’s really all about, helping the staff make more matches that are hopefully as successful as mine was,” Robin says, “it’s a great board to work on because a lot of nonprofits do good work, but BBBS truly can change the course of a kid’s life.“

After sixteen years, Robin is now resigning from the board. Robin has been a won-derful Board member, superb Board President, and tireless advocate for the mission of BBBS. CEO Andrea Maril notes, “while I’m sad to see Robin leave the board, she’s agreed to remain as an official member of my ‘kitchen cabinet’ forever, supporting our efforts behind the scenes. I can’t imagine how I could do it without her!”

Robin and Carrie (Carrie’s High School Graduation)

Robin and Carrie (Carrie age 7)

2015 Board of Directors

Pictured from left to right: Daniel Slavin, Geno Zamora, Rebecca Ostrovsky, Randy Dry, Carlos Gonzales, Nancy

Davis, Heather Brady, Lisa Hecker, Taryn Sandford, Tom Odai, Yale Jones, and Liz Cavasos

Grant Souces

Charmay AllredGregory AntonsenDan BaerDavid and Lisa BarkerMary Ann BennettEd BermanMyrna and Barry BernardTed and Marcia BerridgeCarrie and Bruce BertramChris Beyer*Brant and Becky Blair*Shannon and Ed BonifaceChristina BoyceSimon BrackleyJason and Heather Brady*Sanford and Jane Brickner*Parsons BrinckerhoffArt and Dawn Brown*Connor Browne and Christina Price*James and Noel Browne*J.D. Bullington*Daniel and Katherine Burrell*Jeff and Barbara ButlerStuart and Robin ButzierLee Cabeza de VacaMichael and Ann CampbellNelson Chadwick and Elizabeth PotterChip and Kay Chippeaux*Camille CoatesCyndi ConnMichelle and Bill CoonsMike CrowellRobert and Nikki CunninghamFrances D’AlessioHouston and Alice DavisPaula DevereauxDavid and Deborah DouglasBrad and Julee DryRandall Dry and Ocean Munds-Dry*Alice and Greg DunnKelly DuranSue and Walt EddyPatricia EdgeLon and Ann EricksonBecce Fain*Gerry FairbrotherTim Farrell and Kristina Alley*

Kurt and Aviva FaustBill and Ariana Feinberg*William and Margaret Feldman*Chuck FerranJim and Nita FrankJames and Phyllis FrierWilliam and Eleanor Fries*Frost Foundation*Missy and Mark Gale*Lucille Gallegos-Jaramillo and George Jaramillo*Whitney & Meredith GeorgePaul GoldingBrian & Phyllis Gonzales*Carlos and Rachel Gonzales*Dave GonzalesArthur and Renee GoshinMary Sky GrayAlana and Joel GrimstadMatthew GrossDeanna and Doug HaileyValerie and Bud HamiltonStephen Harper*Dave and Vera HaydukLisa HeckerJoan and Wayne Heftye*Kendra and Paul HenningDennis and Anita HernandezRobert HicksStephen and Jane HochbergArthur HullCandice JagerPat JahodaTom and Joyce JensenMatt and Cheryl JohnsonSherry JohnsonYale & Barbara Jones*McCreery L. JordanWilliam KellerJordan and Will KesslerBrad and LeAnne KinkelaarTom and Margie KintzFred KolberBettie and Robert Kroutil*Yogash KumarDavid Lamb and Robbi FirestoneBenjamin LeJim LibertyJohn Loehr & Margaret KeenRamon and Nance LopezShirley LujanRob and Jen MacDonaldKirk & Melanie MacGillivray*Keith MaestasMichael MahonyEdward Maran* Paul Margetson*Andrea Fisher Maril*Dolores Martinez

Thank You Donors!

These individuals gave $500 or more to Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region during the 2014 calendar year.

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Monica Martinez*Barbara McColm*Sherman McCorklePatrick McQuittyDylan MerriganKelly and Steve Meyers*David and Joni MillerLeigh Moiola and Charles Dale*Lillian MontoyaRonda Herrera-Montoya*John and Marte MurphyDavid and Nicole MusolfKelly and Steve MyersMichael NaminghaBrett and Cindy NewberryTom and Brenda Nickoloff*Thomas Odai*John and Kathy OdellCharles and Judith OfeltRachel O’Keefe & Steve BohlinMichael and Sandy OlsenMatt and Hedi O’ReillyGilbert and Patricia OrtizSandy and Russell OstermanPaul and Rebecca Ostrovsky*Alan and Dolores Overton*Cedric PageKatharine PagePaula Pana*

Dan and Ashlyn Perry* Pietro Pertusini Bill and Judy PetrickFrancis PhillipsRandy and Sondra Phillips*Pamela Porter*Dennis and Patricia PriceAlexander and Sherida PurdueRebeca Romero Rainey & John RaineyJoe Ramiro Garcia

Joohee and Lee RandAndrew RodriguezCaroline RussellRon Ruybal*Christopher and Kathy Ryon*Nick Venditti and Carlie SalasLes and Lisa Samuel*Liz SanchezLeon SandersfeldTaryn SandfordCara ScarolaDonna L. SecularKim SeibertDion SilvaRobin Smith*Joan and Robert SobelKurt SommerMichael SpencerAndy and Linda SpinglerCharlie and Joni StottsGeorge Strickland and Anita OgardDan SullivanJoe and Cindy TannerStanley H. Tomchin*Donald Torres and Mary AleiAlexander TschursinLarry UpshawJohn and Iris Vasquez Bo Lopez and Rikki Vieira

Robert and Ellen VlademWayne Walden*Vin Walden and Jocelyn JansonsJan and Phyllis Waye*Donald and Debby WelkerGene and Judie WolkoffBert Lies and Rosina YueRobert ZachryGeno and Sheila Zamora*

We also receive tremendous support from area businesses throughout the year and wish to thank all of you for your generosity, without which hundreds of children would not be matched with caring adult mentors. Please forgive us in advance if we omitted your name. Let us know and we wil include it in the next donor listing.

Annual Campaign4%

Government38%

Las Cruces office6%

Regional Events3%

Gala Income18%

Capacity Campaign

13%

SouthwesternNew Mexico

6%

Grants and Contributions

8%

Annual Income Sources

* Start Something Campaign Donors.

Spring/Summer 2015

Capacity Campaign Ensures More New Mexico Youth Reach Their Potential

Looking toward the future…

Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrated the completion of a 3 year capacity campaign by thanking donors, volunteers, and committee members at a Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Hotel Santa Fe. The campaign originated in January 2012 as an important part in New Mexico’s fight to help our children successfully complete high school.

Capacity Campaign Goals:

Significantly increase service to northern New Mexico children in need of 1-to-1 mentoring Strengthen outcomes such as providing longer and stronger matches with lifelong impact on education, social competence and avoidance of risky behavior

Seek local collaborations with schools and other youth-serving non-profits.

Serve 1,800 kids in a single year

At the celebration, Chief Executive Officer Andrea Maril thanked attendees for investing in the health of our community and positively changing the course of the lives of children now and for generations to come. Executive Board President Randy Dry thanked Robin Smith for leading the campaign efforts from the start and committee members for their dedication in raising over $1.7 million for the agency.

Contact Us

Main Office

1229 S. St. Francis Drive, Suite C Santa Fe, NM 87505T (505) 983-8360 F (505) 983-1280TF 1-866-983-8360

www.bbbsmountainregion.orginfo@bbbsmountainregion.org

Regional Offices

Doña Ana/Grant Counties221 W. GriggsLas Cruces, NM 88001T (575) 523-9530F (575) 449-2719

Los Alamos/Rio Arriba CountiesT (505) 614-4231 (Los Alamos)F (505) 983-1280

McKinley County 100 E. AztecGallup, NM 87301T (505) 728-8356 F (505) 726-4276

San Miguel/ Mora Counties 801 Friedman Ave. P.O. Box 1465 Las Vegas, NM 87701T (505) 426-8510F (505) 426-8503

Taos/Colfax CountiesT (575) 779-0315 (Taos)F. 505-983-1280

Capacity Campaign Comittee:

Connor Browne, Thornburg Investment Mgt Dolores Overton, Wells Fargo Bank

Randy Dry, Thornburg Investment Mgt Ashlyn Perry, Trout Stalker RanchYale Jones, Retired Pam Porter, Entrepreneur Joni Miller, Trailer Ranch Robin Smith, Rosemont RealtyThomas Odai, CORE Investments, LLC George Strickland, Retired

Geno Zamora, Santa Fe Public Schools

Dona Aña Spaceport

Match Hike

McKinley County

Taos H.S. Bigswith their Littles San Miguel County

School Program

1229 S. St. Francis Drive Suite C Santa Fe, NM 87505

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAID Santa Fe, NMPermit #881