Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast

09/05/2026

💚 Please join us in welcoming Peter Offringa to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast Corporate Board!

Peter brings a remarkable combination of entrepreneurial leadership, technology expertise, and a longstanding commitment to mentoring young people.

An entrepreneur, inventor, technology leader and early-stage investor, Peter has built an extensive network throughout Sarasota’s business and innovation community. He currently serves as Board Chair of Bridge Angel Investors and serves in leadership roles with Sarasota Tech, Suncoast Venture Studio and other community organizations.

We are excited to welcome Peter to the Corporate Board and grateful for his commitment to helping create opportunities, build connections and ignite the power and promise of youth. 💚

Welcome, Peter!

09/04/2026

Join BBBS of the Sun Coast Big Brother Coy Carter for a Transformational Leadership Seminar on Saturday, October 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Rosin Way Mentoring Center.

This interactive capstone experience will help participants build confidence and strengthen their leadership skills through discussion and collaboration.

Lunch and door prizes will be available! 💚

09/03/2026

💚 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡!

This month, we’re celebrating something that can change the trajectory of a young person’s life: having a caring adult in their corner.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, we create and support meaningful, one-to-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers — Bigs — and young people — Littles.

Sometimes mentoring looks like talking about school. Sometimes it’s shooting hoops, exploring a career, reading together or spending time together.

But at the heart of every match is something powerful: a young person knowing someone believes in them.

This September, help us Inspire the Next Generation. 💚

👉 Learn more, support our mission or find out how you can get involved: https://bbbssun.org/

09/03/2026

💚 Building a stronger future starts with investing in people.

Earlier this week, our CEO Kamala Martinez had the opportunity to meet with Jeff King of King Plastic Corporation to talk about growth and a shared commitment to young people and families throughout South Sarasota and Charlotte counties.

Founded in 1968 and headquartered in North Port, the company is a top employer and manufactures innovative polymer products that are distributed around the world.

King Plastic recently broke ground on the King Family YMCA Early Learning Center, which will provide early learning opportunities for up to 150 children while supporting working families in the community.

That commitment aligns closely with the work we do through our workforce-readiness program, Beyond School Walls, where young people gain exposure to the incredible career opportunities available right here in Southwest Florida.

Thank you to King Plastic Corporation and Jeff King for welcoming us and for investing in the future of our community.

We look forward to building a meaningful partnership for years to come! 💚

09/02/2026

💚 Please join us in welcoming Rene Hebda to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast Corporate Board!

Rene brings an impressive depth of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, strategic planning, community engagement, and relationship building to our Board.

As Executive Director of the Gulf Coast CEO Forum, Rene leads one of the region’s premier organizations connecting CEOs, presidents, and entrepreneurs through peer learning and leadership development. Prior to that, she served for 11 years as Director of Institutional Advancement at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School.

We are thrilled to welcome Rene to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast family. Her passion for building strong community partnerships and creating lasting impact will be an incredible asset as we work together to ignite the power and promise of youth across our 10-county service area.

Welcome to the Board, Rene! We’re so glad to have you with us. 💚

09/01/2026

🎒 A new school year means a new opportunity to make a BIG difference. 💚

Last year, 1,816 young people across our 10-county service area were supported through professionally supported mentoring relationships — and the results were extraordinary:

📚 99% graduated or advanced to the next grade
🎓 100% of graduating seniors transitioned to college, military service, or employment
💪 98% avoided risky behaviors
🌟 100% remained arrest-free
🙌 Nearly 1,900 volunteers gave an estimated 265,000 hours to help young people reach their potential

But the need hasn't stopped.

Hundreds of youth are waiting for a mentor.

As a new school year begins, you have the opportunity to be the caring, consistent adult who shows up, listens, encourages, and helps a young person believe in what’s possible.

You don't have to be a superhero.
You just have to show up and be there. 💚

👉 Click here to volunteer: bbbssun.org/volunteer/

Be a Big. Change a life. Start this school year with purpose.

08/31/2026

Stronger together! 💚

We loved welcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters staff from across Florida to beautiful Naples for some strategic planning, collaboration and connection.

When we come together as a statewide network, we can share ideas, learn from one another and find new ways to create meaningful impact for the youth and families we serve.

A BIG thank-you to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida for bringing everyone together! 💚

We’re proud to be part of this incredible network—and even prouder of the work we do together to ignite the power and promise of youth.

Gathered in beautiful Naples! 📍

Staff from across Florida came together at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast - Collier County last week for an inspiring strategic planning meeting. A BIG thank you to the Sun Coast team for their incredible hospitality!

08/29/2026

Please join us in welcoming Larry Schultz to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast Hardee Community Advisory Board. 💚

Larry’s heart for mentorship began while working for Freshway Foods in Sidney, OH, where managers were encouraged to get involved in community service. He joined Big Brothers Big Sisters and became a Big Brother to an 8-year-old boy. Today, that young man is 23, living in Iowa, and remains a meaningful part of Larry’s life—they still talk nearly every week.

Larry later served for four years on the Big Brothers Big Sisters board, where he helped with fundraising and recruiting new men and women to become Bigs for young boys and girls. He has also supported the Hardee County Sheriff's Office Chicken Parm Dinner, an event that raised $8,000 to help provide Christmas gifts for 160 children in need, with strong support from his Torrey Oaks family.

Larry looks forward to serving BBBS of Hardee County and helping create brighter futures for local children.

Welcome to the team, Larry! 💚

08/28/2026

We’re incredibly proud to share that Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast was named a finalist for Nonprofit of the Year at the 46th Annual Manatee Chamber of Commerce Small Business & Nonprofit of the Year Awards! 💚

We were also proud to have Anthony Baldo, Chair of the BBBS of the Sun Coast Corporate Board and Executive Director at JPMorganChase, join us at this special event.

We’re grateful for the mentors, families, supporters, volunteers, and community partners who make our work possible. Together, we’re helping ignite the potential of young people across the Sun Coast.

08/28/2026

💚 Back to School Is Better Together!

As the Macy's Back-to-School Round-Up Campaign comes to an end on August 31, we want to say a BIG thank you to Macy’s and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for helping make a difference for young people in our communities. Together, we’re helping create brighter futures through the power of mentoring.

Doing some last-minute back-to-school shopping this weekend? There’s still time to make your purchase mean even more! 🛍️

When you shop at Macy’s, round up your purchase at the register or make a donation at checkout on Macys.com. Every dollar helps create life-changing mentoring relationships and supports the potential of youth.

Thank you for being Bigger Together and for helping us defend the potential of every child. 💚