The organization invites the public to its open house this month.
Des Moines, IA (November 5, 2024) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSIA) will commemorate the opening of its new Youth Mentoring Center, located at 2130 Grand Ave in Des Moines. The new facility will be unveiled with an open house event on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Community members are invited to tour the new facility, meet BBBSIA staff, learn more about the organization’s programs, and explore volunteer opportunities. Light refreshments will be provided.
“As the Greater Des Moines communities grow, the needs for mentoring our youth continues to grow – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa is uniquely positioned to step in and serve those needs,” said BBBSIA CEO Bridget Cravens-Neely. “Our new youth mentoring center makes us more accessible and provides a safe and fun gathering place for our matches while also offering community space for outside organizations to use. This center also accommodates our growing team and programs. We have more space to interview families, Littles, and Bigs and form new mentoring matches.”
In late 2023, BBBSIA announced its purchase of the 10,500 sq. ft. building. Renovations were completed in September this year to expand the agency’s operational capacity. The Youth Mentoring Center allows BBBSIA to serve more youth in Central Iowa. BBBSIA is committed to providing a welcoming, engaging and safe space for their Bigs and Littles to form life-changing relationships. Fostering meaningful relationships and promoting personal growth are essential elements of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring methodology.
The youth mentoring center was made possible with broad community support from private and public partners. Financial support from the Dahl Trust, EMC Insurance, John Deere, Maytag Foundation, MidAmerican Energy Foundation, NCMIC, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Prairie Meadows, Stine Seed, The Iowa Clinic, Two Rivers Bank & Trust, Variety Club Children’s Charity, William C. Knapp Charitable Foundation, and Workplace Storey Kenworthy Foundation made the project a success for Iowa’s largest mentoring organization. Several individual BBBSIA advocates (Tania Bowman, Rob & Lizzy Dixon Family, Adam Haugerud, and Kiley & Corey Skadburg) were instrumental in the organization’s capacity campaign.
Dean Snyder Construction, Dentons Davis Brown, Knapp Properties, and SVPA Architects were critical operational partners in the youth mentoring center’s acquisition, renovation and project completion. In addition, there were countless independent contractor companies (mostly small businesses) who joined the project and transformed the 50+ year old building into a usable space for youth mentoring.
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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
For over 56 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSIA) has continuously dedicated itself to serving youth (Littles), ages 5-24, through professionally supported mentoring relationships with adults (Bigs) in Central Iowa. As a prominent youth mentoring organization in Central Iowa, BBBSIA’s mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Please visit www.bbbsia.org or call 515-288-9025 to learn how YOU can join our village.
