MIDLAND In conjunction with National Volunteer Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters held its volunteer appreciation dinner April 22 at Green Tree Country Club in Midland.
All volunteers for the organization were invited, with 10 receiving specific honors for their service. In addition, the organization recognized two community partnerships.
Andrew Davis was chosen as the 2022 Community-Based Big Brother of the Year. Davis has been matched with his Little Brother Camran for two years in the Odessa program. The match began in the school-based program, which meets during the school day at the child’s school. Davis was honored for his dedication in adapting in order to continue the match when schools closed due to COVID.
The 2022 Community-Based Big Sister of the Year is Brittany Watson. Over the past four years matched with her Little Sister, Watson has helped her become more outgoing through activities such as interacting with farm animals and helping with her homework. Watson has also encouraged other volunteers matched with quiet Little Brothers or Little Sisters.
Jim and Shauna Trela were honored as the 2022 Couples Match of the Year. They have been matched with their little brother for almost two years, helping him overcome family issues he was struggling with. The Trelas adopted a daughter while matched but made it a priority include their little brother in discussions of the process, reassuring him that they planned to maintain their relationship. Their little brother is doing well in school and has overcome the family issues he faced in the beginning.
The 2022 High School Big of the Year is Brett Campagna. Campagna was matched with his little brother in September 2020. Although the match has been virtual – meeting weekly via Zoom – Campagna has been committed to encouraging his little brother about school and special school projects, while fitting in a little fun with Fortnite, the game of Life and Among us. Campagna has helped to educate his little brother in making good choices, while his little brother educated Campagna on video games.
Katheleen Chaney and her little sister Rosie were honored as the 2022 Match of the Year. Rosie says she can be herself with Chaney and that her big sister respects and values her feelings and thoughts. Matched for more than five years in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based program, they have found they have a great deal in common, including their love for arts and crafts.
Recognized for her encouragement and support of her little sister, Natalie Conner is this year’s School-Based Big of the Year. She and her little sister have been matched for four years, seeing each other weekly to play with Play-Doh, color or do origami. They also practice reading. Conner rates her match with her little sister as a 10.
Also recognized were board members Shellie Young and David Hanss. Both have been long-time board members for Big Brothers Big Sisters and have served in leadership roles, helping the organization adapt through COVID and to introduce new initiatives during that time to ensure that the children in the program achieved the vision of reaching their full potential. Both are also Bigs (short for Big Brother or Big Sister) in the program and have been for many years.
Adrian Vega was named Odessa Committee Member of the Year. Vega has been a big brother for several years, beginning with the School-Based program and then moving to Community-Based when schools closed during COVID. He serves on the committee to oversee the program and has helped promote the organization by promoting his match in various media.
The final two awards presented at the dinner were to recognize the importance of community partnerships. Teresa and Paul Cain with Cain Insurance Solutions and InWest Retirement Solutions were honored for their decades of financial and program support for Big Brothers Big Sisters. They attend fundraisers, encourage staff to volunteer and also donate a large number of Rockhounds tickets annually so that matches can enjoy a game at the ballpark.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Permian Basin was honored for the willingness to partner with a fellow nonprofit to improve the lives of children in the Permian Basin. High school and college students can meet with a little brother or little sister after school at one of the area clubs in Midland and Odessa. The child receives a mentor and positive voice, while the older students can earn community service hours and develop leadership skills.
Also recognized were special guests Lawrence Cheeks, counselor at De Zavala Elementary, and April Madrid and Elizabeth Curtis, counselors at Yarbrough Elementary.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has provided mentors for children in Midland County since 1975 and in Ector County since 2017.
For more information about enrolling a child or volunteering as a mentor, call 432-687-0195.
