This year Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, recognizing that some individuals in our communities go above and beyond to support the mission of BBBS, added a new annual award for Individual Partner of the Year. BBBS Lone Star serves 106 counties in Texas including Brown County. Nominations from all over the state were accepted for this new award. Jared Trowbridge, Vice President of the Brown County Board of Directors was honored Tuesday, May 14th at the Annual All Region Board Meeting in Irving, Texas as the 2013 Individual Partner of the Year. Trowbridge was presented the award to a standing ovation crowd.
Impressed that such a young man was making such a significant contribution for the children in our community, newly appointed, BBBS Lone Star CEO, Rob Roby said, “I need to watch out for you. You’ll be after my job someday.”
BBBS officials state that Trowbridge is an aggressive and talented young man with a heart of gold. He started with Big Brothers Big Sisters as a Big at the age of 17 but now is so much more.
He drew the Brown County Board’s attention at Bowl For Kids Sake two years ago. His then employer, Brownwood Regional Medical Center sponsored him for a Bowl For Kids Sake team. His Little Brother had moved away, but he was still interested in helping in any way he could. He and his co-workers more than doubled the sponsorship, earning the top fundraising award. After his bowling session he left and brought back several silent auction items from local business owners that he knew and more donations. He stayed to help with the second session and the clean up afterwards. The Board nominated him for membership at the next meeting.
“I knew I had found gold when I sent an email out to the board asking if they would send me one contact to talk with about being a volunteer.” said Regional Executive Director, Gina Jameson. “Within an hour Jared had sent three and promised he would have more soon. By the end of the week I had 10 contacts from him that resulted in six interviews.”
Jameson said he answers the phone joyfully saying, “What can I do for you?” when she calls. He offers resources, donates personally, volunteers a minimum of 3 hours a week, and is only a phone call away. He’s a true asset to BBBS and the community and very deserving of this prestigious award.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star is the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in the world serving approximately 10,000 children annually. BBBS of Brown County is honored to be part of this premier BBBS organization.
BBBS Lone Star is the leader in sponsoring innovative programs to strengthen the BBBS brand and serve our changing communities, while maintaining the time honored core values of BBBS of America: to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better forever.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way agency primarily supported by local donations. For more information on how to register your child, volunteer or donate to the Big Brother Big Sisters programs, contact Gina Jameson at 325-643-5600 or gjameson@bbbstx.org.
Pictured above (left to right) are: Chris Bright, Chairman of the BBBS LS Executive Board; Jared Trowbridge; and Rob Roby, new CEO of Lone Star.
