Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore Inc. (BBBSES) is pleased to announce its designation as an independent affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the hiring of Jessica Mimms as its Executive Director.
Since 1982, various sister agencies in the Big Brother Big Sister family have overseen services on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In July 2016, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore was formed to oversee and manage these services locally. All funds raised for the program will stay here on the Shore. The agency will continue to serve youth in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties. The agency is a member of the United Way of Kent County, United Way of Queen Anne’s County and the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. The agency has its offices in downtown Salisbury.
BBBSES was officially approved as an independent affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in October 2016 and has been incorporated and recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 charitable organization. “We are pleased the children of the Eastern Shore will continue to be served by Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Greg Zweber, Vice President of Affiliate Support and Compliance at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Big Brothers Big Sisters believes that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and youth (“Littles”), ages 6 to 18, throughout our community. BBBSES develops positive mentoring relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of our young people. For the youth and the volunteers who have been involved with the agency, no real change will occur. So far this year, the agency has served 392 children – 77 through one-to-one mentoring – and currently has another 127 children on the waiting list to be matched to a mentor.
A local Board of Directors will oversee the finances and the work of the agency. Directors are Gail Foltz (Board Chair), Robby Sheehan (Vice Chair), Karen Bell (Treasurer), John Allen, Jr., Allyson Bernard-Church, Clifton Harcum, Shawn Harrison, Dr. Dan Ervin, Joshua Nordstrom, Mike Pretl, Andrew Steck, and James Sweet.
Executive Director, Jessica Mimms has worked in the Big Brothers Big Sisters world since 2003 and brings a great deal of hands-on program experience to the agency. “It is an honor to continue the great work of Big Brothers Big Sisters on the Eastern Shore. Over the past thirteen years I have seen firsthand the positive impact our programs have had on the lives of local children,” said Mimms.
If you are interested in providing financial, leadership or mentoring support, or need a mentor for your child, for more information, please visit www.shorebiglittle.org, call 410-543-BIGS (2447), or write us. Our address is: BBBSES, 200 W. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Salisbury, MD 21801.
