July 11th, 2024



IN THIS ISSUE:

• BIG Yacht Rock Gala
• El Tour De Tucson
• 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

Our communities men have stepped up admirably to become Bigs and mentor youth in our community! We're thrilled to announce 37 incredible men have joined our 100 Men in 100 Days initiative.

With 29 days remaining, we aim to recruit 63 more male mentors. Together, we can ensure every child in need experiences the profound impact of having a positive role model.

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

Big Trip Raffle is BACK! Only 250 tickets will be sold and only One winner will be drawn live at The Big Yacht Rock Gala Dinner and Auction, October 5th, 2024. Winner need not be present to win and can choose between two travel destinations curated by Bon Voyage Travel valued at $8,000, or the winner can choose $5,000 in cash! 2024 Trip Options, curated for two, are a 5-night 'Barefoot Break' in the British Virgin Islands hosted by Windstar Yacht Cruises, OR a 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise hosted by Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Click HERE for full travel descriptions and rules & restrictions.

We are thrilled and incredibly grateful to announce that Citi will be joining us once again as the presenting sponsor for Team Defenders at the upcoming El Tour De Tucson! 🎉

Thank you, Citi, for your continued commitment to empowering our youth through mentoring and cycling. Together, we're making a real difference in our community!

Ready to ride for a cause? Join Team Defenders today and pedal with purpose in El Tour De Tucson!

Get ready to set sail for a night to remember! We're thrilled to announce that the BBBS Big Yacht Rock Gala is set for Saturday, October 5th, 2024, at the stunning Loews Ventana Canyon. With tickets and tables now available for purchase, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Silver Sponsors whose generous support makes this event possible. Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the weeks ahead!

“I was attracted to serve because I feel I have the ability to help children (both young and adolescent), especially after having 2 kids attend and graduate high school amidst the pandemic.”

-Christine Bradish, 2024 BBBSSA Board Member

Christine Bradish is a current member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona’s Board of Directors. Christine is a Senior Vice President for Citi. She has served on the Board of Directors since January of 2023 and currently holds a seat on the Development & Strategic Planning Committee as well as the Gala Committee.

Christine is originally from Sturgis, Michigan; then residing in Johnson City, TN for 30 years before a promotion moved her to Tucson in 2021 for work. She is an alum of East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s in business administration – Go Bucs!

Christine was introduced to Big Brothers Big Sisters through her employer. Citi has been a valued community partner and investor in youth mentoring for over a decade. After experiencing the mission and impact firsthand at the 2022 Big Gala, Christine knew she wanted to lead the charge as a representative of her employer and more importantly as a passionate member of our community. “Working with BBBSSA brings me joy through the people I have met – the ‘little’ encounters are so rewarding!”

When asked how she would respond to someone interested in supporting the agency as a board member and/or volunteer Christine says do it! “If you are passionate about making a difference in young people’s lives, this is the organization to join!”

Christine is happily married to her husband Benjamin. Together they have raised a 28-year-old daughter and 21-year-old twin sons; currently enjoying their grandson who is 16 months. Christine loves college basketball and football; she is a huge Michigan State fan – Go Green!

“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to make a deeper impact that will hopefully have a long-lasting positive effect with the organization”

-Gabriela Cervantes, 2024 BBBSSA Board Member

Gabriela Cervantes is a current member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona’s Board of Directors. Gabriela is a Marketing Manager at Snell & Wilmer. She is also a teaching assistant for the University of Arizona’s Eller College and travel advisor for Fora Travel. Gabriela has served on the Board of Directors since 2018 and currently holds a seat on the Development & Strategic Planning Committee as well as the Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Committee. 

Gabriela grew up in Nogales, Arizona and considers it her hometown. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona holding a bachelor’s in marketing, certificate in international business, and a master’s in business administration.

Gabriela was first introduced to Big Brothers Big Sisters when she volunteered to be a Big Sister in 2014. “It will be ten years this November matched to the same Little Sister. She has taught me a lot and has shown me that there might still be a tiny spark of hope for the future. The experience continues to teach me the difference one person can make in the life of another. It is so incredibly impactful that it can truly change lives.” It was the enjoyment of time spent as a Big Sister witnessing the impact that led Gabriela’s desire to do more within the organization as a board member.

When asked how she would respond to someone interested in supporting the organization as a volunteer she responded with a question. “Do you want to spend your time watching TV or do you want to have a legacy? With Big Brothers Big Sisters, your time spent with a child can change that kid's life forever. Now that's a legacy to be proud of. Nobody is going to remember how much TV you watched!”

Gabriela has been married 24 years sharing three canine daughters: Rooney, Saoirse, and Frida Sofia. Gabriela fills her spare time with her passions. She greatly enjoys sewing and making clothes as part of her ‘Gabriela with One L’ fashion line. Gabriela loves going to museums and above all else, loves to travel and to help others see the world. She is the former board chair of the Women's Foundation for the State of Arizona, on the board for Tu Nidito and supports the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, among other nonprofits. Time spent in between goes to reading and brushing up on her French.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona

supportus@soazbigs.org www.soazbigs.org