Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon

07/28/2026

Social Wellness Month is about celebrating the power of connection. A caring adult can help a young person feel supported, valued, and inspired to reach their potential.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up. A few hours a month can create a lifelong impact.

Become a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, a program of J Bar J Youth Services, and help change a life.

07/27/2026

Meet Our Advisory Council ✨

We’re excited to kick off a new weekly series introducing the incredible members of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon Advisory Council. These dedicated leaders help guide and support our mission behind the scenes at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, a program of J Bar J Youth Services.

This week, we’re proud to introduce Ren Gates, our Advisory Council Chair!

Ren has served on our Advisory Council for the past four years and has led as Chair for the last three years. As a Mortgage Loan Officer with CrossCountry Mortgage, Ren brings thoughtful leadership, strategic insight, and a deep belief in the power of mentorship.

His commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters has been invaluable, providing guidance and support to our Program Director and the entire BBBSCO team as we work to create and strengthen life changing mentoring relationships for local youth.

When he’s not working or volunteering, you’ll find Ren enjoying everything Central Oregon has to offer with his wife and their two boys, whether exploring the mountains, hitting the trails, or spending a day on the golf course.

Thank you, Ren, for your leadership, passion, and dedication to Big Brothers Big Sisters. We are grateful for all you do! 💚

07/10/2026

☀️Staff Spotlight- Meet Amelia

Amelia is one of our incredible Match Support Specialists! Match Support is the heart of BBBS 💚. Always there to support our Littles, Bigs, and families. Coaching, supporting and guiding.

Amelia grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and attended University of Virginia, where she earned her BA in psychology. Afterward, Amelia decided to trade the beach for mountains and moved west to Bend.

Amelia joined the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon team because she is passionate about the transformative power of human connection. She is dedicated to helping Bigs and Littles build authentic connections that foster confidence, belonging, and growth. Amelia feels grateful to work alongside the youth, families, and volunteers of the Central Oregon community. She shares that it’s the people of Central Oregon who have truly made Bend feel like home. Of course, the beautiful outdoors helped too, which is exactly where you’ll find Amelia in her free time.

Thank you Amelia for being such a valuable asset to the BBBS team!

07/10/2026

Help us create Big Futures by donating to our Silent & Live Auction!

We’re seeking gift cards, unique experiences, vacation stays, outdoor gear, tickets, baskets, and other auction items for The Big Event on October 1st .

Your donation helps raise critical funds to connect more local youth with caring mentors and provide the support they need to thrive.

Interested in donating an item or experience? Send us a message or email [email protected].

Thank you for supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, a program of J Bar J Youth Services.

07/08/2026

Receiving the Pinnacle Award at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Conference in June was an incredible honor. While accepting this award was a proud moment, it’s not really about the award itself. It’s about what it represents.

This recognition reflects the incredible work our staff does every single day. Their dedication, compassion, and belief that every young person deserves a mentor are what make this possible. They show up each day committed to creating life changing relationships for the youth and families we serve.

We are also proud to be part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America network, joining agencies across the country in a shared mission to help young people reach their full potential through mentorship. As a program of J Bar J Youth Services, we are grateful for the support that allows us to make this impact here in Central Oregon.

To our staff, mentors, families, volunteers, supporters, and community partners, thank you. This award belongs to all of you. Together, we are creating brighter futures, one mentoring relationship at a time!! 💚

-Jenn Davis, Program Director

07/07/2026

Thank You OnPoint Community Credit Union for supporting our Big Futures Program with a $15,000 grant! We are so thankful for your ongoing support of our programs.

The funding supports programs focused on education, foster youth, food security, housing stability, workforce development and access to summer camp for underserved children.

https://ktvz.com/news/2026/07/07/onpoint-credit-union-awards-500000-in-grants-to-nonprofits-in-oregon-and-sw-washington/

06/27/2026

✨ Staff Spotlight: Meet Jacey! ✨

If you’ve ever enrolled your child in our program or signed up to become a Big, chances are Jacey was one of the first friendly faces to welcome you to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon!

As our Enrollment and Match Specialist, Jacey is passionate about creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive experience for every child, family, and volunteer who walks through our doors. Her background as a preschool teacher sparked her love for working with children, and she brings that same compassion and enthusiasm to helping make life changing mentoring matches every day.

Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Jacey attended college in Long Beach before making Central Oregon home. When she’s not helping build incredible mentoring relationships, you’ll find her spending time with her husband and their two beloved dogs.

Thank you, Jacey, for the kindness, care, and heart you bring to our mission each and every day. We are so grateful to have you on our team! 💚

06/26/2026

BBBS Bigs, Littles & Families- it is not too late to RSVP for our graduation picnic on Tuesday, June 30 at 5 PM. Bigs families encouraged to attend. We hope that you will come and help us celebrate our recent high school graduates. We had an incredible six kids graduate this spring!

Join us for an evening of barbecue dinner, dessert, including cake, and ice cream, and a hula show 🌺

You can RSVP to [email protected] or send us a DM by Monday. We hope that you will come celebrate with us!

06/19/2026

4 incredible days, 2,000 passionate changemakers, impactful learning sessions, earned Pinnacle and Biggie Awards, and countless life-changing connections at the Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference in Atlanta!

We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this experience possible. We’re returning to Central Oregon inspired, energized, and equipped with new ideas to strengthen mentoring and create even greater impact for the youth we serve.

The future is bright, and we can’t wait to put what we’ve learned into action!

06/19/2026

✨ Staff Spotlight ✨

Meet Shannon, our amazing Event Coordinator!

When she’s not teaching dance and hip-hop classes, Shannon is busy creating memorable experiences for our Bigs and Littles. From planning match activities and coordinating Bowl For Kids’ Sake and The Big Event, to writing our newsletter and supporting all things events, she helps make so much of what we do possible.

Shannon brings creativity, laughter, and positive energy to our office every day. We are so grateful for her dedication and the joy she brings to our team and community.

Thank you, Shannon, for all you do for BBBSCO! 💚