Big News
Challenge Accepted: Generous Matching Gift Opportunity Helps Leverage Giving to BBBSCBR
For Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, dedicated volunteers, generous donors, committed advocates, and an enthusiastic network of partners and supporters are key to our ability to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
With Every Step: Thank You, Charlottesville Track Club and Charlottesville Ten Miler Team
The connections between the race and the Club with BBBSCR run deep, from leadership volunteers (yes you, Mark Lorenzoni and Diane Rosin Okusa) to assistance with hosting annual run/walk events, and more. BBBSCR was proud to be named a secondary beneficiary of the 50th running of the Charlottesville Ten Miler, contested on March 22.
Gratitude for a New Partner: Buffalo Wild Wings
We are grateful to the Buffalo Wilds Wings Foundation for their grant of $5,000. Nathan Frazier, General Manager/Franchise Learning Administrator for the Charlottesville and Culpeper restaurants, nominated Big Brothers Big Sister for support from the Foundation.
Let’s Go Fishing!
Fishing season is upon us and the local area is filled with beautiful places to visit – for Bigs and Littles to enjoy this activity near the water.
The Value of Partnerships
Active collaboration with local schools, organizations, youth-serving entities, and businesses enhances Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge’s ability to serve area children and collectively leverage community impacts and resources. These strategic partnerships help fill service gaps effectively, ensuring our programming complements rather than overlaps with existing initiatives, making BBBSCBR a unique and essential contributor to our community's youth development landscape.
Mentorship in Action: Alan and Justyn’s Journey
Big Brother Alan and Little Brother Justyn's story is a powerful example of mentorship at its best. From their first nervous encounter to sharing exciting experiences like running races and trying Taekwondo, their journey has been all about growth, support, and building a meaningful friendship. Through their time together, they've witnessed the profound impact a mentor can have on a child’s life. Learn more about their inspiring journey in this Q&A.
Support BBBSCBR and the Charlottesville Ten Miler!
BBBSCBR is excited to be a secondary beneficiary of the 50th running of the Charlottesville Ten Miler on Saturday, March 22! The race is a community tradition that has benefited many nonprofits over the years, including us. In turn, we are spreading the word about registration and plan to support the runners on race day.
Match Activity Ideas: Let’s Get Creative in 2025!
As our BBBS matches look toward this shiny new year of 2025, our staff is here to support you! Maybe your Little is into making things? Building models, arts and crafts or other hands-on activities.
Exploring Bright Futures: A Little Sister’s Journey to Virginia Tech and Beyond
For Little Sister Alaja, the future's looking bright! A high school junior with a passion for architecture, Alaja has spent the past year diving deep into her dream of becoming an architect. With her Big Sister Erin by her side, Alaja has been exploring college campuses to find the perfect fit for her goals. Together, they recently visited Virginia Tech to tour the campus and its renowned architecture school.
Magic on the Mall
Winter in Charlottesville is a season full of excitement, community spirit, and festive charm—all happening right on the Cville Downtown Mall! To help you make the most of this magical time, we’ve gathered a list of FREE events happening at the Downtown Mall, perfect for Bigs, Littles, and families alike. Wishing you all a warm and joyful season—happy holidays!
The Big Serve Makes a Big Impact
On October 19, BBBS hosted its inaugural pickleball tournament – The Big Serve. The morning started off chilly, but sunshine and the enthusiasm of 19 teams and a cadre of volunteers quickly warmed things up. The competition was friendly and fun with groupings for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced teams.
Serving Up Success: Meet the BBBS Matches Who Competed in The Big Serve
On October 19, 2024 at Darden Towe Park, we held our inaugural pickleball tournament, The Big Serve. Several of our matches came together for a day of fun and friendly competition.
BBBS Fall Hike 2024: A Day of Nature and Community
We had an incredible time during the BBBS Fall Hike on the Frazier Discovery Trail! A huge thank you to Ranger Whitney for being our guide and sharing fascinating insights into the natural wonders we encountered along the way.
Big Spotlight: Trick Bike Riding in Charlottesville!
Big Brother Adam and Little Brother Da'Moni have been matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) for nearly four years, sharing a love for the outdoors and staying active. From hiking in Shenandoah National Park to their newest hobby—biking—the duo makes the most of their time together. This summer, they visited Charlottesville Community Bikes, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing kids in the Charlottesville area with safe bicycles and helmets.
BBBS a CavFutures Foundation 2024 Champion of the Community
This summer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge was ecstatic to learn it was one of 13 local non-profit organizations to receive $10,000 through the CavFutures Foundation inaugural Champions of the Community grant program.
Supporter Spotlight: Mark Lorenzoni
We are thrilled to shine this month’s Support Spotlight on Mark Lorenzoni, former BBBS Board Chair and a devoted supporter. For Mark, supporting BBBS is a family affair, and we are proud to call the entire Lorenzoni family our friends.
They're playing basketball! Big Brother Ben and Little Brother Kavion
Matched with BBBS since October of 2021 – Big Brother Ben and Little Brother Kavion have had a blast together! They have spent time together playing basketball and enjoying other sporting activities. Big Brother has also cheered Little Brother onward by attending his Little League baseball games and basketball youth team games. With Big Brother Ben having graduated from UVA and moving away from the Charlottesville area, both are celebrating the end of this successful match with our program – but looking forward to keeping connected for many years to come!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge Announces Director of Philanthropy
Born and raised in Norfolk, VA, Sarah received her BA in Political Science from then Virginia Wesleyan College, now University. While getting her degree, she also started her now 30+ year career in the nonprofit sector, first as a work study and then a parttime staffer in the Office for Development and PR. As part of small team full of mentors ready to help her grow and explore the field, Sarah was introduced to alumni and donor relations, capital campaigns, data management, event planning, grant writing, public relations, strategic planning, and so much more.
BBBS Match Spotlight: Big Sister Linda and Little Sister Saliha
Big Sister Linda and Little Sister Saliha have been matched in our BBBS program for seven months, creating a strong bond through shared adventures in the Charlottesville area. Their weekly meetups often include hiking, attending local events, and participating in a variety of activities that the community offers. They especially enjoy the events sponsored by our program, often feeling like winners at these activities!
New Match Highlight: Welcoming Heather and Suzanna
We're thrilled to share exciting news from the Blue Ridge Bigs community! Yesterday, we welcomed a fantastic new match to our family, Big Sister Heather and Little Sister Suzanna. The introduction meeting, filled with smiles and laughter, took place at our local BBBS office, signifying the beginning of what promises to be a rewarding journey for both mentor and mentee.