News

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert was founded in 1997 serving the Coachella Valley youth between the ages of 6 to 18 in two core mentoring programs: Community-Based and Site-Based.

Our Purpose: For every child to have the opportunity to succeed in life and live up to their full potential.

Our Mission: Is to build and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the biggest possible futures for Coachella Valley youth.

​Our Vision:​ All youth achieve their full potential.

Our History: In October 1995, two prominent members of the community came together to share their dream to start a Big Brother Big Sister affiliate. Realizing the need for a mentoring program to serve the children within the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs Mayor, William Kleindeinst and Dr. Stanley Gerston, LSCW and a former Executive Director of Jewish Big Brother of Los Angeles, joined forces and started Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert.

In August 1997, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert became an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and joined more than three hundred Big Brother Big Sister programs. In October 1997, Judy Tobin May was hired as the first Executive Director and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert was able to start offering their life changing one-to-one mentoring program to Coachella Valley youth in the community-based program. In 2001, the program expanded to include site-based mentoring in collaboration and partnership with after-school, facility-based youth programs.

Over the years we are proud of the recognition and awards we have received including:

  • 2017 State of California Nonprofit of the Year
  • 2011 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Skip Walsh award to staff member, Joanne Leinow
  • 2009 Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Award
  • 2009 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Gold Standard Pinnacle Award
  • 2008 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Gold Standard Award
  • 2008 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Executive Director of the Year Finalist
  • 2008 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Board of the Year Finalist
  • 2007 Athena Award given to Judy Tobin May
  • 2006 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Board of the Year Robert L. Kommerstad Leadership award
  • 2006 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Executive Director of the Year Finalist
  • 2006 State of California Big Brother of the Year Award given to Bill Simmons​​

Website: https://www.bbbsdesert.org

To Top