Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore recently held its annual Big Celebration to should appreciation to friends, mentors, volunteers and donors. The Big Celebration was presented by Chesapeake Employers Insurance and was held in the executive suite at the Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentors, guests and members of the community all came together to enjoy a night of celebration, food and an awards presentation. The guests were welcomed by BBBSES Executive Director Jessica Mimms, board members Jimmy Sweet and Karen Bell, former board member John Allen, and MC for the evening Dan Ervin.
Volunteer Heather Mahler was recognized as the Big Sister of the Year for her commitment to excellence and selflessness in mentoring. Mahler’s Little describes Mahler as instrumental in her graduating high school with a 4.0 weighted GPA, helping her with homework, especially essays, and bringing focus and understanding as to the value of her classwork. Further, Mahler went above and beyond to ensure her Little was ready for college by locating scholarships, inexpensive sources for books, and a car to attend classes. Mahler has been a friend, confident, and inspiration for her Little for 8 years, and will continue to be one for years to come.
Board member Karen Bell was recognized as Board Member of the Year. Bell has served on BBBSES’s Board for the last 7 years, recently as Treasurer. As a previous Big Sister herself, Bell holds a special connection to BBBSES. She was instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition as BBBSES became an independent affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in 2016 and works diligently to continue the financial growth of BBBSES.
Former board member John Allen Jr. received the Big Impact Award. Allen tirelessly dedicated himself to the BBBSES Board. Allen created the annual Eastern Shore Golf Classic and has raised over $90,000 for the charity. Allen has been an invaluable resource for BBBSES.
“Without the involvement of individuals like John, Karen, and Heather, our agency would not be able to provide life changing experiences to so many children in our community,” Jessica Mimms, Executive Director of BBBSES said, adding, “The work of our volunteers and board members is what makes it possible for us to help youth facing adversity.”
BBBSES is currently accepting applications for children in need of mentoring and volunteer mentors in all nine counties of the Eastern Shore. For information on how to become involved with the agency, call 410-543-2447, visit www.shorebiglittle.org, or follow Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore on Facebook @BBBSES.
