The Mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is to create and support mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
OUR VISION
All youth achieve their full potential.
Dear Friends,
There is an ancient African greeting that resonates deeply with the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters: “How are the children?” It’s not a casual question—it’s a reflection of a community’s strength, values, and future. The well-being of our children tells the truth about who we are.
So tonight, I ask you: How are the children?
If we’re honest, too many of our young people are facing uncertainty—navigating violence, isolation, and a future that doesn’t always feel like theirs to shape. But there is hope. There is potential. There is power in relationship.
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, we believe a child’s future is not predetermined. It is shaped—by mentorship, by opportunity, by consistent, caring adults who show up. And that’s where you come in.
This evening, you’ll hear from voices across our community—mentors, mentees, and our keynote speaker Charles Gilford III—who remind us that transformational change begins with human connection. Our theme, Big Futures Start With You, is not a tagline. It’s a call to action.
Because when we invest in children, we invest in safer neighborhoods, stronger schools, healthier families, and a more just Colorado.
Thank you for being here. Your presence tonight is more than a gesture of support— it’s a commitment to answering that powerful question with confidence: The children are well—because we’ve made them a priority.
With gratitude and urgency,
Elycia Cook Chief Executive Officer Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado
Help us raise $500k to support our children!
SCHEDULE
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Registration & Cocktails
7:00 p.m. Seated Dinner
7:20 p.m. Program Begins
Welcome, Elycia Cook, CEO BBBSC
Videos & Award Presentation:
Live Auction, Simone Ross
8:00 p.m.
Auction Closes & Keynote Address
Charles Gilford III
8:15 p.m.
Paddle Raise
Simone Ross
8:30 p.m.
Program Concludes
LIVE AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Denver Nuggets MVP Fan Experience
Cheer on the 2023 NBA Champs from a private luxury suite! This package includes a signed Nikola Jokić MVP jersey, $1,000 credit for food and drinks, and convenient parking. A true VIP night out with one of the NBA’s top teams!
Hawaiian Paradise Getaway
Fly first-class to Oahu for a 4-night stay at a boutique hotel. Enjoy exclusive access to the Oahu Country Club and Outrigger Canoe Club, plus $1,000 in credits for golf, dining, and beachside relaxation. Experience Hawaii with sun, scenery, and VIP treatment.
Gems of Mexico: 7-Night Luxury Escape for Four
Spend 7 nights at The Mayan Palace in Riviera Maya or Nuevo Vallarta. Relax on white-sand beaches, enjoy pools and spa services, golf on a Jack Nicklaus course, splash at Jungala Aqua Park, and see Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ—all just steps from your resort.
Devin & Alex
ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
When their match first began in October of 2017, no one could have predicted just how meaningful and lasting the relationship between Alex and Devin would become. Over the years, their bond was built on shared laughter, learning moments, and unforgettable memories—but perhaps none more beloved than the annual Halloween costume parties.
These events quickly became a favorite tradition. Each year, the anticipation grew as they worked together on elaborate costumes for the Big Little Fashion Show. Devin, the Little, became somewhat of a legend— winning several contests with his creative and carefully crafted outfits. The joy of planning and participating in those events brought out the best in both of them, highlighting not only their creativity but their growing connection.
Today, long after the initial match, the two remain close. They make a point to stay in touch—meeting up and checking in every few months—proving that the impact of the program goes far beyond the years of official mentorship. It’s a friendship that’s endured, a testament to what Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado is all about: connection, commitment, and lasting change.
Carmen
& Camille
For many, involvement with STARS begins in middle school. But for these sisters, the connection started even earlier. “I remember being just a kid in 2004, tagging along with my mom to SNC to help her take care of my baby brother,” Carmen recalls. “I wasn’t old enough to join yet, but I could already tell STARS was something special. I remember thinking, I can’t wait until I’m old enough to be part of this.”
That dream became reality around 2010, when the sisters officially joined STARS. As they moved into high school, their role grew—they became part of the Teen Staff, and that’s when the real understanding of the program’s power began to take root. “It wasn’t just about me anymore,” Carmen says. “It was about being part of something bigger—about helping others feel seen, supported, and inspired.”
Their deep belief in the program’s impact is what led them to stay involved long after their time as a student. “STARS gave me joy, connection, and a sense of purpose during some of the hardest parts of growing up,” Carmen reflects. “Programs like this help students build resilience, stay engaged in school and in life, and— most importantly—feel like they belong.”
Today, they’ve come full circle. Now serving as the STARS Coordinator for Center STARS, they’re leading the very program that helped shape them. “It’s the greatest privilege,” Carmen says. “To give back to the same community that raised me, and to help create those same transformative experiences for the next generation—it’s more than a job. It’s a calling.”
“STARS gave me joy, connection, and a sense of purpose during some of the hardest parts of growing up.”
- Carmen
MATCH OF THE YEAR
Junior & Ryan
When Junior’s dad became incarcerated, he needed a steady, caring role model. For the past four years, Ryan has been that constant—sharing fishing trips, ice skating adventures, and life lessons.
Through Ryan’s mentorship, Junior has grown in confidence, learned the value of selflessness, and found someone who listens, believes in him, and shows up— every time.
Matches like theirs change lives. Tonight, your support helps ensure more young people can have a Big who makes them feel seen, valued, and unstoppable.
One mentor. One match. A lifetime of difference. Help us create more stories like Junior & Ryan’s.
MENTOR OF THE YEAR
Sabrina
Sabrina’s story captures the ripple effect of mentorship. She began as a STARS mentee in middle school, learning what it meant to have a trusted guide. The moment she could, she stepped into that same role— mentoring younger students for the past three years at Rangeview High School.
Her consistency, empathy, and leadership have left a lasting mark—not only on her own mentees, but on the entire program. Sabrina has been a safe place for countless students, influenced program improvements to protect youth, and shown that when you invest in one young person, their impact multiplies.
Her journey proves that mentorship doesn’t end when you “age out.” It continues, rippling forward to change lives for years to come.
Sabrina’s journey from mentee to mentor shows how one life impacted can spark a wave of change for countless others— your gift keeps that ripple going.
1,534 youth served last year
39,042
Volunteer hours donated, valued at $1,419,567
66% of mentees plan to go to college vs. non-mentored youth
92% view their Big as an important adult in their life SEE ALL PROGRAMS
Big Change Starts Here
$100 Spark possibility through mentor outings and exploration.
$150 Move one child off the waitlist and into a match.
$500
Fuel a Sports Buddies day for 10 mentors and mentees.
$1,500
Open college doors for first-generation students.
$3,000 Sustain a lifechanging year of mentorship.
$5,000 Power a semester of School-Based Mentoring.
$10,000 Transform a whole high school cohort with mentorship.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PREMIER SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
Shawn & Alexandra Neville
Greg Byles
Jerome Blackwell
Abe & Sarah Diamond
Randall Ohlson
Cherry & Reggie Reynolds/ Margarita & David Rivera
Tiamo Wright & Aaron Sauerbrey
Jeff Miller
The Stuart & Janet Kritzer Family Foundation
OUR PROGRAMS
Community-Based Mentoring
Our signature program pairs youth ages 9–18 with caring mentors for flexible, interest-driven activities two to four times a month. Supported by BBBSC staff, these relationships build safety, trust, confidence, and essential life skills.
Sports Buddies (Site Based)
Founded in Colorado in 2000, Sports Buddies connects youth with mentors through activities—from ropes courses and skiing to STEM projects and football camp with Super Bowl Champion Ryan Harris. Each activity fosters teamwork, problem-solving, and a strong sense of belonging.
Big Futures
For youth 13 and older, Big Futures offers one-to-one mentoring, life planning, career exploration, and college readiness support. Through workshops, campus visits, and networking, Big Futures ensures every graduate has a plan—whether it’s college, career, military, or entrepreneurship.
Project AIM
Designed for middle school youth, Project AIM inspires students to envision a positive future and prepare for it. Over 12 sessions, youth explore careers, build resumes, practice interviews, and graduate with a professional portfolio—ready to take their next step.
STARS Peer Mentoring
STARS (Students Teaching About Relationships and Success) trains high school mentors to guide younger students through a 23-week curriculum on leadership, mental health, and healthy decisionmaking. Both mentors and mentees build confidence, skills, and a stronger connection to their school and community.
BIG FUTURES START WITH MEN WHO CARE
Be the Difference. Be a Big.
Right now, more than 300 kids in Colorado are waiting for a mentor, most of them boys.
These kids don’t need superheroes. They need someone to show up, listen, and believe in them.
If you can give just 4–6 hours a month, you can change a life.
Men—our boys need to see themselves in you. Step up and show them what’s possible.
Become a Big!
INSPIRING PEAK PERFORMANCE.
BOA® Technology is a proud partner of BBBSC, inspiring and enabling Colorado youth to imagine a bolder future through access to the outdoors and new career possibilities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andy Cullen, Chair Tributary Real Estate
Sarah Diamond, Vice Chair BOA Technology, Inc.
Karen Collins, Governance Empowerlead
Rhonda Sparlin, Treasury RubinBrown LLP
Steve Schneider, Secretary Corundum Holdings, Inc.
Jerome Blackwell
Kaiser Permanente
Edward Brown Jr Metropolitan State University
Greg Byles Retired (Zivaro)
Rob Edwards Retired (Intertech Plastics)
Jeremiah Erickson gemenskäp
Amanda Gall Meridian Public Affairs
Mary-Margaret Henke InBank; Paragon Integrated Services Group
Lisa Jasper Pariveda
Leslie L. Juniel Denver Public Schools
Michelle Kent KPMG
Cory Leppert CrossFirst Bank
Jeff Miller Husch Blackwell, LLC
Chris Picardi KeyBank
Alex Rasmussen First Western Trust
Rachel Solomon Comcast
Emily Trujillo HCA Healthcare
Tiamo Wright Talent.com
2025 BIG LITTLE GALA COMMITTEE
Elissa Banker Brown, Shawn Neville, Co-Chair Co-Chair BOA Technology, Inc. BOA Technology, Inc.
Christian Brady BOK Financial
Brad Killough Prime Therapeutics
Gina Fernandez-Gardner Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado
Haley Fried-Tanner Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado
