OUR
HISTORY
Our History
How mentoring has grown across Yavapai.
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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.
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1973
Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters officially incorporated and first Board of Directors put in place.
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1974
Board of Directors makes commitment to continue the program once Vista Volunteer Grant completed.
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1976
First Agency Director hired.
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1978
Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters receives Federal Justice Planning monies for three years, allowing for a sustainable organization.
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1978
Organization expanded program and included Big Sisters in the program.
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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.
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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.
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1994
Arizona Community Foundation recognizes Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters work by asking agency to launch Arizona’s first School-Based Mentoring Program.
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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.
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2004
Arizona Governor recognizes Mentoring as one of the most important forces helping children succeed in school.
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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.
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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.
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2007
Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters launches Big Ambitions Capital Campaign.
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2008
Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters moves into new offices on Lakeside Village Drive, Prescott, Capital Campaign declared a success.
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2009
Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters receives Gold Standard Award and High Performance in Quality Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
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2016
Agency receives the National BBBSA office Quality Award.
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2020
Quality Assurance Integration: Program Department case support excels under the implementation of updated quality assurance guidelines and oversight.
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2020
Certified Points of Light Service Organization.
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2021
Awarded the National BBBSA Quality Award
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2021
Mortgage paid off for the Cottonwood office.
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2022
The BIG App launched for YBBBS volunteers, includes partner resources and mentoring guidance.
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2022
Awarded the National BBBSA Quality Award
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2023
Program expansion launched, with Big Futures Workforce Development serving ages up to 24.