Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County Brings
Home the Gold

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has named Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County’s Board of Directors 2009 Board of the Year. The board is the number one leader among the national organization’s mid-size market agency boards of directors.

“Great boards of directors allow our agencies to effectively serve children in their communities, bringing in necessary financial and strategic leadership resources and setting their agencies apart in their communities as organizations proven to help vulnerable children succeed,” said Judy Vredenburgh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

The Board of the Year Award is based on judging against specific criteria that exemplify excellence in sustained growth in the number and quality of children served as well as increased revenues. A national leadership council panel of past winners of Board of the Year conducted the judging.

At the National Conference in Miami last week, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County also accepted its second Gold Standard Pinnacle Award, one of just two agencies nationwide to receive this honor. Gold Standard Pinnacle Award winners achieve consecutive years of success as one of the top five percent of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ nearly 400 agencies in the nation in numbers and quality of children served, high match support, low closure rates and increases in revenue to sustain the professionally supported mentoring relationships. The Mercer agency has met this standard for each of the past three years.

“These awards are only possible because of the hard work and commitment of the
agency's dedicated staff and the contribution of the Mercer County community. It is the
staff, the volunteers, and the supporters of the agency (public and private) that allow this agency to positively impact the lives of hundreds of children in this community." said Shawn Neufeld, Board President.

Judging for the Gold Standard Award is based on specific criteria that exemplify excellence in sustained growth in the number and quality of children served, as well as increased revenues. A national leadership council panel of past winners conducted the judging.