OUR HISTORY

  • 1971: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters Founded through a Vista Volunteer Grant. The program was sponsored by the Prescott Youth Center and founding members Barbara Polk and Bill Murphy.
  • 1973: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters officially incorporated and first Board of Directors put in place.
  • 1974: Board of Directors makes commitment to continue the program once Vista Volunteer Grant completed.
  • 1976: First Agency Director hired.
  • 1978: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters receives Federal Justice Planning monies for three years, allowing for a sustainable organization.
  • 1978: Organization expanded program and included Big Sisters in the program.
  • 1980: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters recognized as an important prevention program in Yavapai County. This resulted in a contract with the Yavapai Juvenile Court Center to begin the Volunteers in Probation Program to work with children being referred by the courts.
  • 1984: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters recognized by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and asked to pilot a High School Bigs program. First Bowl For Kids' Sake event was held.
  • 1994: Arizona Community Foundation recognizes Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters work by asking agency to launch Arizona’s first School-Based Mentoring Program.
  • 2000: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters recognized as a leader among Big Brothers Big Sisters 486 agencies nationwide for the number of children reached per capita.
  • 2004: Arizona Governor recognizes Mentoring as one of the most important forces helping children succeed in school.
  • 2004: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters partners with Harvard University Department of Education’s "Project If" to conduct research on the effects of mentoring. This, along with research from the Yavapai Juvenile Court System created a strong, well-researched case for the positive effects of mentoring on the population of at-risk children.
  • 2004: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters expands its program to the Verde Valley and Sedona with the partnership of The Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA). The Cottonwood office opened this year.
  • 2007: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters launches Big Ambitions Capital Campaign.
  • 2008: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters moves into new offices on Lakeside Village Drive, Prescott, Capital Campaign declared a success.
  • 2009: Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters receives Gold Standard Award and High Performance in Quality Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
  • 2016: Agency receives the National BBBSA office Quality Award.
  • 2018: Agency recognized as Arizona's Top Charity.
  • 2020: Quality Assurance Integration: Program Department case support excels under the implementation of updated quality assurance guidelines and oversight.
  • 2020: Certified Points of Light Service Organization.
  • 2021: Awarded the National BBBSA Quality Award
  • 2021: Mortgage paid off for the Cottonwood office.
  • 2022: The BIG App launched for YBBBS volunteers, includes partner resources and mentoring guidance.
  • 2022: Awarded the National BBBSA Quality Award
  • 2023: Program expansion launched, with Big Futures Workforce Development serving ages up to 24.