June 7th, 2024



IN THIS ISSUE:

• Summer Bowl & El Tour!
• Pride Month & Juneteenth
• BOD Spotlights

“Regardless of our titles or years of experience, we can learn from each other. Through mentoring and by being open to learn where we can reach our ultimate potential.” –Lily Benjamin

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona is seeking to recruit 100 male volunteers within the next 100 days to mentor boys in our community!

The current NEED for male volunteers is urgent as the waiting list for children seeking to be matched to a Big has ballooned to over 150. Close to 90% of those waiting are boys, and many have been waiting over 6 months, some more than 12 months, to be matched to their Big.

It takes little to Be Big because being Big is really just being yourself, doing and enjoying the activities you already participate in and simply taking a new friend along to share the experience with! Mentoring positively impacts youth served, increasing aspirations for the future, self-confidence, self-esteem, and academic expectations. Mentoring benefits the volunteer too as YOU get to be part of positively impacting your community!

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

Get ready to set sail for a night to remember! We're thrilled to announce that the BBBS Big Yacht Rock Gala will be taking place on Saturday, October 5th, 2024, at the stunning Loews Ventana Canyon. Tickets and tables are now available for purchase, and we can't wait to share more exciting updates with you in the coming weeks! The evening will be filled with live music, great food, drinks, impactful storytelling and so much more! Stay tuned for more details and get ready to rock!

We had such a good time at Bowl For Kids' Sake Comic Con that we are hosting ONE MORE DATE to do it all over again with a Summer Bowl Edition! BFKS Summer Edition will be held on Friday July 19th from 6:00-8:30 pm at Lucky Strike! If you weren't able to attend or want to participate again its time to rally up your super team and kick off your fundraising! Sign up your team below to get started!

BE A DEFENDER! Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona (SoAzBigs) is a proud beneficiary of the Annual El Tour de Tucson! 

This year's event will be hosted Saturday, November 23, 2024. Riding for SoAzBig's Team Defenders is a great way to support our life-changing, one-to-one, mentoring programs while earning your tour entry AND some great prizes.

To ignite the potential of all young people, we must ensure they have a strong mentoring relationship in their lives. Together, we affirm that everyone can reach their full potential. We are committed to creating and cultivating a safe environment where all individuals feel respected and valued equally.

On this Juneteenth and every day, we honor the spirit of African Americans who fought for their freedom and paved the path for a better future. To Be Big, let’s catalyze change by embracing empowerment and lifting each other up. It all begins with fostering unity within our communities.

“I  love this organization and have seen the positive impact it has had on local kids. Serving on the Board gives me the opportunity to better use my professional skills to support BBBS and its mission.”

-Austin Urton, 2024 BBBSSA Board Member

Austin Urton is a current member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona’s Board of Directors as well as Co-Chair for the 2024 El Tour de Tucson Team Defenders. Austin is a Civil Engineer at M3 Engineering & Technology. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2023 however Austin’s involvement with Bigs began back in 2015 as a member of the BBBSSA Advocacy Board of Young Professionals, serving for 8 years.

Austin’s hometown is Coolidge, Arizona. He moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona, completing his bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering with a structural focus. 

Austin was introduced to Big Brothers Big Sisters by a former Board Member and longtime Big Brother. Austin has been a passionate advocate for the agency over the years, participating in events and fundraising in support of youth mentoring. He was a founding committee member and multi-year chairperson and rider for Team Defenders in El Tour de Tucson. More recently, Austin has enjoyed serving on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Building Committee, guiding the development of the BBBSSA NEW Mentoring Activity Center, coming soon!

When asked how he would respond to someone interested in supporting, Austin replied, “If you want to make a profound and lasting impact on the community, BBBS is for you. It is a pleasure to work alongside my fellow board members and BBBS staff, many of whom have become dear friends.”

Austin is a former Big Brother and plans on becoming a Big again soon and volunteers with local engineering organizations. He enjoys spending time with friends, family, and his partner of almost 4 years, David, a Sergeant with Tucson Police Department. Austin enjoys fitness, cycling, art and architecture.

“I love hearing the success stories directly from littles. It reminds me why the work of BIGS is so important!”

-Jeff Powell, 2024 BBBSSA Board Member

Jeff Powell is a current member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona’s Board of Directors. Jeff is the Director of Economic Development for Sun Corridor. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2023 after serving on the BBBSSA Advocacy Board beginning in 2021. 

Originally from Washington, D.C., Jeff has called Tucson home for 15 years. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s in Africana Studies, 2013.



Jeff was introduced to Big Brothers Big Sisters through a colleague who serves on the Board of Directors. He was attracted to the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters and how it aligned with his philanthropic proprieties and goals stating, “the passion and dedication to serving the young people in our community is unmatched.” 

When asked how he would respond to someone interested in supporting, Jeff highly recommends getting involved adding, “you have a chance to make a real difference in the lives of young people in our community, and the positive impacts will extend to your own life.”

Jeff married his college sweetheart who serves as an Assistant Dean in the Dean of Students office at the University of Arizona. Together they have a 2-year-old son named Theo, two cats, and a dog. Jeff is also actively involved in the University of Arizona’s College of Humanities as an Alum and donor. Outside of enjoying time with family and his community engagement activities, Jeff enjoys hiking and rock climbing.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona

supportus@soazbigs.org www.soazbigs.org