August 8th, 2024



IN THIS ISSUE:

• BIG Yacht Rock Gala
• El Tour De Tucson Social Brunch
• Board of Directors Spotlight

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” 

— Bob Proctor

We’re thrilled to share that our Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona’s 100 Men in 100 Days campaign has come to a close! Over the past few months, we’ve seen 56 incredible men step up to become Bigs and make a difference in the lives of youth in our community. Your dedication and willingness to mentor are truly inspiring!

But our work isn’t done yet. We still have an urgent need for more Big Brothers to join our ranks and make a lasting impact. If you’ve ever considered becoming a mentor, now is the perfect time to step up and help shape the future of a young person in need.

🌟 Sign up today and be a part of something extraordinary! 🌟 Your commitment can change lives, and together, we can continue to make a positive difference.

1. Sign up to be a Big Brother and/or Big Couple (wives & partners are welcome!)
2. Share this need with your network!
3. Invite BBBSSA into your place of business, place of worship and affiliate groups to provide information about volunteer opportunities. We bring goodies, we can share at your next staff/organization meeting, and we can host lunch & learns or coffee breaks so people can drop in.



For more information and to invite us to share about volunteer opportunities with Big Brothers Big Sisters contact Veronica Saiz at Veronica@SoAzBigs.org | 520-365-2263

A HUGE THANK YOU to The Centurions for generously donating the proceeds from their raffle to BBBS! With their incredible support and your participation, they raised an amazing $23,000!!

It was such a thrill to be part of their fantastic event, and every dollar will go directly towards empowering young people across Southern Arizona. Your generosity truly makes a difference!

A huge shoutout to Parks in Focus for hosting an amazing photography event at Reid Park Zoo for our BBBS-SOAZ matches!



From exploring the zoo through the lens of a camera to the exciting scavenger hunt, our participants had an incredible time and learned so much. The smiles and laughter were truly priceless!

Thank you for your support and for creating such a memorable experience.

Our amazing BBBS-SOAZ staff recently joined forces to support the City of Tucson’s Housing and Community Development Housing First Division by assembling 320 care packets for those experiencing homelessness.



It’s inspiring to see how we can all contribute to a brighter future for our neighbors in need. Together, we’re making strides towards a stronger, more supportive community.

“My favorite thing and what I enjoy most about working with BBBSSA is hearing from Littles on how their Big has impacted their lives and being able to support that continuing.”

-Jennifer Hagele, 2024 BBBSSA Board Member

Jennifer Hagele is a current member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona’s Board of Directors. Jennifer is the Consulting CFO and Office Leader for Clifton Larson Allen (CLA). Jennifer has served on the Board of Directors since 2023 and currently holds membership on the Finance committee and Board Development committee. She is also a Big Alum, having been a Big Sister during her college years.

Originally from Cleveland, Jennifer has called Tucson home for almost 8 years. Jennifer has an undergrad degree in Business in Accounting from Miami University and an MBA in Finance from Case Western Reserve University.

She was first introduced to Big Brothers Big Sisters through a community partner and consultant for the agency. What initially caught her interest were the strategic plans to develop and implement a new mentoring activity center. Jennifer recalls that it was “Marie, [the CEO’s] professionalism and enthusiasm for the organization,” that ultimately gained her commitment to the agency.

When asked how she would respond to someone interested in supporting and being more involved with the organization, Jennifer keeps it simple “Please join us!” Whether it’s joining the board, becoming a Big, or supporting as a donor; investing in our youth is an investment for the future of our community!



Jennifer has been happily married for 25 years to her husband and together they have three kids, ranging from middle school through college, and one dog. She enjoys attending her kids’ sporting events and school functions. She enjoys cooking, healthy living and fitness, and planning her family’s travels.

“My favorite thing and what I enjoy most about working with BBBSSA is experiencing the mission moments when Littles talk about their experiences and how their Big impacts their life.”

-Daniela Gallagher, 2024 BBBSSA Board Member

Daniela Gallagher is a current member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona’s Board of Directors. Daniela is Vice President of Economic Development for Sun Corridor. She originally served on the board of directors from 2018 to 2022 and returned in January of 2024. Daniela serves on the Gala event committee and Board Development committee. She is also a Big Alum, having been a Big Sister in BBBSSA Mentor2.0 twice.

Daniela is originally from Frankfurt am Main in Germany where she earned her bachelor’s degree. She then

completed her masters in the United States, settling down in Tucson in 2009.

She was first introduced to Big Brothers Big Sisters by a former board member who urged her consideration to become involved. Daniela was motivated by her desire to see change in her community and knew that it would require a gift of time and service. “Nothing is more important to me than to serve our youth, so [joining] BBBSSA was a no-brainer!”

When asked how she would respond to someone interested in supporting and being more involved with the organization, Daniela replied “Investing the time will give you back more than you can hope for. Nothing feels better than seeing the difference of one-on-one mentoring, either as a Big or as a board member.”



Daniela likes to spend time with her family whom she calls her ‘small team’ made up of her husband Bill, their daughter Sofia, dog Iida and cat Nora. She also likes to keep active, enjoying golf and cycling.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona

supportus@soazbigs.org www.soazbigs.org