Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami

What a powerful day in collaboration with the The Miami Foundation to represent Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami at Trivest Partners along with our non-profit colleagues from Feeding South Florida® and Junior Achievement of Greater Miami. Thank you for the platform to shine a light on the importance of friendship, food, and financial literacy. Always good spending time with board member, Jamie Elias. More BIG things to come through the lens of partnership and investment. Jessica Duhig Allyson Vaulx Lourdes de la Mata-Little Laura Fernandez Derek Wallace Kendra Yarbor, PhD Rebekah Lanae Lengel ROBERT BARRERAS, MBA Joshua Prever Ben Gerber Troy Templeton

The BBBS Miami Programs team recently visited TD Bank for the School-to-Work Orientation and conducted new mentor interviews at the new site. A BIG thank you to our new board member, Casey Crist, for making this all possible! #BBBSMiami

This month’s Corporate Partner Spotlight shines brightly on Ryder System, Inc.! "Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami has been a cornerstone of Ryder’s tradition of giving for the past 15 years. Our School to Work program stands out as one of the most impactful employee-driven initiatives within the company. Over the years, Ryder employees have taken on the role of 'Bigs,' guiding 'Littles' towards fulfilling careers. We are proud to see our employees making a meaningful difference, inspiring kids to stay in school, pursue higher education, and strive for a greater purpose. We are honored to invest in the future of Miami." — Amy Federman, VP - Corporate Communications

Today's Spotlight: Meet Asim Pleas, VP of Programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami! What do you love most about Miami? "Of course I love the weather and beaches the most, being a Midwest guy, I'll take the heat and ocean breeze all day." How do you like to spend your weekends? "We're a sports family, so most weekends are spent working out and at a sporting event for our kids, track, basketball, and football." Can you share something about yourself that would surprise most people? "I used to compete in hip hop and breakdance competitions when I was young." What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? "Even a dog has feelings, treat everything with respect. —my dad, Edward Pleas." What do you enjoy most about working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami? "I enjoy working, figuring things out and winning for our children the most. I also enjoy working directly with Jerry. Our journey with athletics, being from the Midwest, fatherhood, and community work, makes what we do that much more special."

Twenty years ago, Myra Camino, an alumni BBBS Miami staff member, was matched with her Little Sister, Samantha. Over the years, their bond has only grown stronger. Samantha has since become a mother, naming her daughter after Myra, and has built her career in the insurance industry. Happy Match Anniversary! #BBBSMiami

This past weekend, our BBBS Miami youth had a fantastic time at Terron's back-to-school event at Target! With up to 50 youth, along with their guardians, Bigs, and BBBS Miami staff in attendance, the day was a BIG success. Each child received a backpack filled with school supplies, enjoyed a delicious lunch, and had the chance to hear inspiring words from Terron and his teammates. Thank you to everyone who made this event special and memorable for our incredible youth! #BBBSMiami #BBBSA #Target #BeBig #TerronArmstead #MiamiDolphins Gale Nelson Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

We're thrilled to partner with Target to provide back-to-school shopping events for the young people in our programs! Helping our Littles prepare for a successful school year and reach their full potential is what it's all about. #BBBSMiami #BackToSchool #Target #BeBig #TeamTarget Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Gale Nelson Jerry Calvert Rebekah Lanae Lengel Asim Pleas

We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the Ocean Reef Community Foundation and are excited to extend the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami mentoring program to the City of Homestead. A BIG thank you for your continued support! Gale Nelson Asim Pleas Rebekah Lanae Lengel Joshua Prever Ben Gerber Laura Fernandez Juileen H. Lauren Merrill Sharane Knibbs-Rhone CBHCMS Jerry Calvert Wendy Cournoyer, MSHRM, SHRM-CP Zerry Ihekwaba, PhD, PE #BBBSMiami #CityofHomestead

Today's Spotlight: Meet Rebekah Lanae Lengel, Chief Operating Officer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami! What do you love most about Miami? "As a Miami native, I’ve seen so many changes in this city over the years, both good and not so great, but Miami is singular in its access to opportunity. If you have great ideas and a willingness to work hard, you can make things happen here." How do you like to spend your weekends? "Full of laughter with the people I love." Can you share something about yourself that would surprise most people? "In 2006, I was a tour manager for a dance theater company for a month-long tour throughout Ecuador and Peru. In addition to performing, the tour was also a cultural exchange which allowed us to collaborate with local artists, participate in ceremonies at Incan temples in Peru and warrior trainings in hot springs in Ecuador." What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? "It’s rarely about you. It’s easy to internalize things or be hypersensitive to feedback, however, once you learn to step back from your own feelings, you are able understand that things are not as personal as they might feel, which allows you to move on and overcome challenging or uncomfortable situations more quickly." What do you enjoy most about working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami? "I love having the opportunity to work with an organization that impacts this community so deeply, providing resources to young people that help them lead productive lives. I am so grateful to work alongside an incredibly passionate team of amazing people." #BBBSMiami

Introducing BBBS Miami Board Member, Baldwyn English! What do you love most about Miami? "Miami is different from any other part of this great state. The Caribbean flavor is vibrant, the weather is superb, and it’s a very diverse city of many cultures. Anything you want, you can find in Miami." How do you like to spend your weekends? "I generally attend church services, engage in volunteer activities, and spend time with my family. I really need to find more time to make it to the beach, though." Can you share something about yourself that would surprise most people? "A celebrity once brandished a gun toward me. It was in jest, and we laughed about it." What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? "It’s not all about the chase. A life of service to others is the greatest reward." What's been the most rewarding part of serving on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami board? "I’m new, but participating in the scholarship giveaway event was very moving. That investment into the future of these young people is immeasurable." #BBBSMiami Florida Power & Light