Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Washtenaw County & Metro Detroit To Merge

We are thrilled to share with you some exciting news from Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Metro Detroit and Washtenaw County. Today we file paper with the Attorney General’s office to merge to create Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan, with the goal of tripling the number of mentoring matches between adult volunteers (Bigs) and children (Littles) between the ages of 8 – 18.   Jennifer Spitler, LMSW, will serve as the chief executive officer for the merged organization, having headed BBBS of Washtenaw for twenty years and our two boards of directors will merge together.

Thanks to your generous donations and on-going support, this merger will result in additional opportunities and experiences for youth, improved offerings through implementation of best practices from both organizations and decreased administrative expenses. This means that we can expand our reach into communities with new programming, and ultimately make an even greater impact on the lives of young people in our region.
 
As a donor-supported, volunteer organization, our efforts can only be accomplished with the help of our Bigs, community sponsors, and generous corporate and individual donors like you.
 
We invite you to join us at our annual fundraising breakfasts in May, where you can learn more about our shared vision and how you can help support our efforts.
 
Over 100 years ago, BBBS was founded as an innovative alternative to the juvenile justice system to create equity and empowerment for young people who needed us most. Today, this spirit drives us to become the foremost JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) youth empowerment organization putting every kid on the path to graduate with a plan for their future and the impact of a mentor for their lifetime.  With your continued support, we can make this vision a reality for even more young people in Southeast Michigan.
 
Thank you for your generosity and for believing in our mission. Together, we can create a brighter future for all.



Gregg Hammerman                                                          Kathie Patterson
Board Chair, Washtenaw County                                        Board Chair, Metro Detroit