As the holiday season approaches, it’s a great time to reflect on how thankful we are for our amazing community! Behind the scenes here at BBBS, we have a strong team of professionals dedicated to the success of each and every match we make. They work hard to prioritize child safety and to meet and exceed the needs of everyone involved in the BBBS program in any capacity.
And bolstering their efforts are all our donors and supporters. Their generosity is what makes possible all the work we do! Positive long-term outcomes for our region’s youth depend on them, and we’re so thankful for their commitment to our community’s children.
And last but certainly not least, thank you to all our Bigs, parents/guardians, and Littles! Without such enthusiastic participation from you, we simply couldn’t fulfill our mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
Happy Holidays,
David Beturne, CEO
Brews Bites & Bids
With the support and generosity of so many brewers, donors, and attendees, this year’s Brews Bites & Bids was a huge success! Thank you so much to everyone who helped to make this happen and for empowering potential in our community’s youth.
Meet Our Advisory Council
Kim Weir
Where do you work and what is your role there?
I retired from the Connecticut Department of Correction as a Warden in 2017, after serving 27 years.
What inspired you to get involved with BBBS?
BBBS is a wonderful organization that serves young people in our community. I was inspired by their mission, which is to ”create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of Youth.”
What is your vision for the future of BBBS?
My vision for the future of BBBS is to see it increase partnerships and mentors, so that no young person is left unmatched.
My plan for the future of BBBS is to continue to do my part in supporting their mission and vision to expand their impact by reaching more children and making life long connections. I have served as a Big Sister for over 20 years and I am going on my forth Little.
What do you love most about being part of the western MA community?
What I love about being part of the Western MA community is the commitment to service and making a difference in the lives of our young people.
What are some of your hobbies and things you like doing in your free time?
In my free time I love traveling, going to the beach and spending time with family and friends.
Community Spotlight
Wolf & Company’s support of BBBS goes back over twenty years! Over time, they’ve supported our mission in just about every way possible. Wolf has made major contributions via fundraising event sponsorships, corporate gifts, recruiting Bigs, and having record-level participation in Bowl for Kids’ Sake. They even provide a whole team of volunteers to take on some of the most complex tasks for our annual Brews Bites & Bids event.
Without a doubt, the support and generosity of Wolf & Company has empowered potential in so many of our community’s youth. We couldn’t be more grateful and appreciative of all they do.
Aside from being an amazing community supporter, Wolf & Company is also a great business to partner with for your CPA and advisory needs! They offer a wide range of services, which they can tailor to your unique needs. Click here to learn more.
New Partnership with M&T Bank
As a new school opens up in Westfield, a brand new BBBS site-based program launches simultaneously! Thanks to the generosity and commitment of M&T Bank, this exciting dream has become a reality.
The Westfield River Elementary School Lunch Buddies program pairs adult volunteers with third, fourth, and fifth graders. Matches will meet once a week to spend time together, talk, and develop a friendship.
Through these matches, the Littles will experience the joy of having a positive, consistent adult in their life. As a result of their time with a Big Brother or Big Sister, the Little’s attitude towards school will improve, and their relationships with peers and family members will become stronger and more positive.
Thank you so much to M&T Bank and to Westfield River Elementary School for helping to make this possible.
Staff Milestones
This month, we have lots to celebrate with our staff!
November of 2024 marks 10 years for David Beturne (left) in his role as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, 10 years for Cindy Colangione (center) in her role as Program Director/Chief Program Officer, and 10 years for Lydia Parés-Pacheco (right) with BBBS! Lydia’s current role is Bilingual Program Supervisor.
Thank you so much for your years of service and hard work on behalf of our community’s youth!
Site-Based Matches
With the school season well underway, so are our site-based programs! Matches meet each week to chat, work on homework, and build on their relationship. As you can see, things are going great!
“Warm the Children” Winner
One of our Littles recently received a Warm the Children gift card. With this amazing gift, she was able to purchase boots, hat, gloves AND jacket–lots of pink, of course! Truth be told, she did attempt to add some makeup and a toy to the cart, but a quick parental intervention kept things on track.
Thank you for this wonderful program, which really helps ensure our youth stay warm and safe all winter long!
New November Matches
