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Nonprofit Profile , Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County Mentoring Group



ORGANIZATION

Name: Paul Palmer.

Titles: President/chief executive officer.

Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County.

Mission of organization: To improve the lives of children by creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships with proven results.

Telephone: (858) 536-4900.

Web site: www.sdbigs.org.

Founded: In America in 1902; in San Diego County in 1961.

Milestone: Serving 1,000 children with mentors in 2006, a 50 percent increase over 2005.

Annual income: $1.6 million.

Expense allocation: $1.36 million for program services.

Corporate support: $750,000.

Corporate supporters: Jack in the Box, LPL Financial Services, Rent-A-Center, Qualcomm Inc., Raymond J Lucia Cos., Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial, Palomar Enterprise, Wells Fargo Bank, San Diego Office Interiors, McCune Automotive, Barney & Barney, San Diego Union-Tribune, Profitline, Home 2 Office.

Board chair: Rick Valencia.

Board members: 39.

Employees: 27.

Volunteers: 1,000.

Events: (Fund raising) Golf Marathon, annual Gourmet Dinner, Golf Jetaway, Party in the Paddock.

Wish list: Individuals to help Big Brothers Big Sisters with funding to serve every child who needs and wants a mentor, or by becoming a mentor or referring a friend. We especially need male mentors for the hundreds of boys waiting for a Big Brother.


OFFICE ISSUES

Recent challenge: How to recruit more non-deployed Marines and retired Marines at Camp Pendleton to serve as Big Brothers and Big Sisters to children with deployed parents.

Measures of success: The number of children we are able to match with mentors is the key measurement. BBBS is one of those rare nonprofits that have proven impacts that come from independent research. The successful outcomes of these matches include children staying in school, off drugs and avoiding delinquency. Locally, 92 percent of the children in our Community Mentoring program show improvement in their self-esteem.

Smartest move: Hiring veteran Big Brothers Big Sisters Vice President of Operations Jim Davis to build infrastructure for serving thousands of children with role models.

Missed opportunity: Not being able to match all the boys on the waiting list, and knowing that they may not achieve their potential without that friendship.

Misconception: People often refer to us as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, despite our measurable differences. For 102 years, BBBS has had just one focus: “the one-to-one mentoring of children.” We want people to have a clear image of what we do, and our impact in children’s lives and our community.


PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS

Personal path to nonprofit work: Twenty-six years in broadcasting, managing radio stations, being involved in the community and serving on several boards meant understanding the role of nonprofits in San Diego. Rebuilding Big Brothers Big Sisters to serve thousands of children requires similar work and experience to rebuilding struggling radio stations.

Toughest aspect: Fund raising.

Most surprising aspect: How much impact and effectiveness our volunteer “bigs” have in improving the lives of children just by becoming their trusted friend. Self-esteem improves while character and values are developed.

Greatest pleasure: Seeing the faces of the children when they meet their Big Brother or Big Sister for the first time.


INTROSPECTIONS

Best recent moment: Rolling down a grassy hill with my grandchildren.

Worst recent moment: Getting my first speeding ticket in 15 years.

Dream for another life: To have no crime and have world peace; or to come back as the owner of Ace Parking.

Greatest inspiration: Knowing that all these children that we help through mentoring have the potential to become whatever they want to be as they dream BIG.

Downtime: Walking, music, reading at the beach, golf and tennis.

Causes: Helping children realize their potential.

Most like to meet: Benjamin Franklin.

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