Since our founding in 1959, thousands of donors and volunteer mentors have come together to inspire youth equity and empowerment across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Every day, our community shows their dedication to building a world where all youth are empowered, strong and limitless. For all this, we share our gratitude.

 THANK YOU 

Thank you for inspiring young people in our community to discover their potential, build confidence and dream bigger than ever.

Your generosity in 2024 helped provide life-changing mentoring relationships for hundreds of kids—ensuring that, through every challenge and success, they have a caring mentor to guide and encourage them.

This past year was filled with significant milestones, all made possible by donors like you. We were honored by BBBS of America as the 2023 Mid-Large Agency of the Year, hit the ground running in Lincoln during our first year as a combined agency, and opened the doors to our new downtown Omaha office. Each achievement brings us closer to creating an even greater impact on the youth we serve.

The future is bright, and we’re excited for what lies ahead. With your continued support, we’ll create even more opportunities for young people to achieve their biggest possible futures.

Thank you for believing in the power of mentorship and standing with the next generation of leaders. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in the year ahead!

- Nichole Turgeon, President/CEO
- Eric Johnson, Board Chair

OUR MISSION | Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
 

OUR VISION | All youth achieve their full potential. 
 

“Mentorship speaks to me. It reaches kids across our community and exposes them to new and different opportunities.” - Carly Turner

Fred Hunzeker and Carly Turner aren’t just donors. They are the epitome of impact Game Changers. Fred’s journey with Big Brothers Big Sisters began nearly two decades ago when he joined the Impact Circle as a founding member. He didn’t know much about the organization at the time, but since then, he has established a lasting legacy. For Fred, the countless success stories he’s encountered motivate him to support the transformative power of mentorship.

“Meeting the Bigs and Littles and witnessing the impact firsthand is what brings me in, and it’s what keeps me coming back,” says Fred.

The duo has been extra involved in the BBBS mission these past few years. Fred and Carly graciously hosted the 2021 Impact Circle Celebration and Update and most recently served as Impact Circle Chairs in 2023. Their involvement has risen above the role of donors to become Game Changers within the organization.
 

We’re genuinely grateful for Fred and Carly and donors like you. Your support makes it possible for more kids to find mentors who inspire and encourage them. Thank you for joining our community of support!

BBBS

 COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING 

515 YOUTH SERVED ACROSS EASTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA
 

MEET LITTLES BRYLEIGH AND RYKER

The moment Ashley’s two youngest kids were old enough to join BBBS, she immediately signed them up. Their older sibling was previously matched, and Ashley wanted the rest of her kids to have a similar experience. Bryleigh (Little) and Bella (Big) celebrated their first match anniversary together last year. During the summer, the duo joined in the MENTOR Nebraska BBBS Day at Fun-Plex to cool off in the 100-degree temps.

Bryleigh was very shy and unsure when she first met Bella. It took quite a while for Bryleigh to feel comfortable spending time with Bella, but ever since, it’s been smooth sailing. With the guidance of their Match Support Specialist and Ashley and Bella’s patience, Bryleigh gradually gained confidence in their friendship. Now, these two enjoy going on adventures at local parks, making arts and crafts projects and attending many of our BBBS match activities.
 

Ryker (Little) was finally old enough to join BBBS not long after Bryleigh, making it a special moment for their family. Ryker was matched with Alex (Big) in September 2023, and their bond has been growing stronger ever since. From the very beginning, Ryker and Alex clicked. They quickly built a friendship and are sharing special memories together. The two attended a Lincoln Saltdogs baseball game last summer. They got to sit in a suite for our Bigs and Littles that was generously donated by Ameritas!

“Alex is amazing with Ryker. Alex is sweet, patient and helpful. I don’t think he understands how much of a difference he is making for Ryker. If Ryker had a choice, he would hang out with Alex every day,” says Ashley.
 

You are helping matches just like Bryleigh and Ryker’s thrive! Mentoring is proven to help kids make powerful connections that transform lives. Thank you for helping empower potential of youth.

One-to-one mentoring leads to important outcomes for youth in three key areas:

ENCOURAGING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Nebraska and Iowa students who identify as Black/African American or Latino have a 75% and 69% 4-year high school graduation rate, compared to their White peers at 92%.

- Nebraska Department of Education and Iowa Department of Education

BBBS Impact

 84%  maintained or improved their Academic Performance/Grades

   84%  maintained or improved their overall educational expectations

 79%  maintained or improved their level of School Connectedness

SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

More than 78,000 Nebraska youth had a mental, emotional or behavioral condition, with anxiety (32,490) and ADHD (30,143) being the most common, yet only 47.6% of those needing counseling received it in 2022. Additionally, 19.2% of youth seriously considered suicide, 36.4% experienced persistent hopelessness and access to behavioral health services remains a challenge, particularly for minority groups.

- 2023 Kids Count in Nebraska Report

BBBS Impact

 88%  maintained or improved their ability to regulate their emotions

   85%  maintained or improved their levels of social competency

 25%  have decreased their level of depressive symptoms
 

AVOIDING RISKY BEHAVIORS

More than 5,250 youth were arrested in Nebraska in 2022, with person crimes (29.9%) and property crimes (25.5%) being the most common, and arrests disproportionately affecting Black (30%) and Hispanic (22%) youth. While overall youth arrests have declined since 2009, status offenses—such as skipping school—remain a concern, highlighting ongoing disparities in the juvenile justice system.

- 2023 Kids Count in Nebraska Report

BBBS Impact

 91%  maintained or decreased the amount of school discipline experienced

  98%  maintained or decreased their level of participation in bullying

 90%  maintained or decreased their engagement in illegal activity

 97%  maintained or decreased their use of illegal substances
 

 MENTORU 

67 STUDENTS MATCHED AT FIVE OMAHA AND COUNCIL BLUFFS HIGH SCHOOLS

Thomas Jefferson High School
Abraham Lincoln High School
Ralston High School
Keith Lutz Horizon High School
Millard North High School

 289  ADDITIONAL STUDENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT AND ENGAGED WITH THE MENTORU CURRICULUM WITHOUT PURSUING A MENTOR MATCH

BBBS

BBBS Impact

 97%  maintained or improved their academic performance/grades

 100%  maintained or improved their overall educational expectations

 82%  maintained or improved their level of school connectedness

MEET MENTORU STUDENT BAYLEIGH

Bayleigh started her senior year at Thomas Jefferson High School last fall. She’s really excited, but she’s sad it’s her last year in the MentorU program. She’s been matched with her mentor, Nicole, since 2022, and they have been having a blast ever since, thanks to you!

Bayleigh is focused on taking interior design courses at Metropolitan Community College over the summer. She hopes to earn money to buy a car and eventually live on her own. Bayleigh is determined to make things happen for herself, and she can’t wait to keep moving forward. Anyone who meets Bayleigh knows that she has big dreams and big plans for the future. MentorU has been a valuable resource to help her along the way.

“I can’t wait to have my own place and to be my own adult someday soon. I am so excited to see what the future holds,” Bayleigh, MentorU student.
 

MentorU is proven to help youth improve their grades, grow their support system, reduce absenteeism and increase classroom engagement. Thank you for helping youth succeed in the classroom, at home and throughout our community. You are helping build a bigger, brighter future for kids here in our community.

BBBS

 FINANCIALS 

Total Revenue: $3,088,671

 23 NEW MATCH MAKERS 

Your monthly support provides the stability needed to connect kids with caring mentors, creating life-changing relationships that grow and thrive all year long. Thank you for making a difference!

“I support each month because I know my donation is actually helping kids for the better.” - Amy (Big)

Learn more about becoming a Match Maker!
 

You donated more than 2 MILLION pounds of clothing and used goods in 2024!

Your in-store donations totaled more than $21,300 in 2024!

   THANK YOU! 

Schedule a pick-up or find a donation bin near you!
 

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Chair: Eric Johnson

Past Chair: Marnie Jensen
Husch Blackwell LLP

Secretary: Amy Steffen
Fiserv

Treasurer: Nathan Scott
Forvis Mazars

Trevon Brooks
Omaha Innovation Hub

Kyle Cartwright
Civic Nebraska

Jason Cleary
Buildertrend

Allie Esch
Big Sister
Hutch Contract

Jessica Hollister
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dr. Karen Kassebaum
Hudl

Jami Kemp
Physicians Mutual

Jaci Lindburg
University of Nebraska-Omaha

Kyle Miller
Renaissance Financial

Brenda Paiz
MentorU Mentor
First National Bank

Amber Phipps
Big Sister
Children's Nebraska

Robert Rutford
KPMG LLP

James Saville
Cox Communications

Ryan Steinbach
Union Pacific Railroad

Carly Turner
Tenaska

Matt Whaley
HDR Architecture, Inc.

Cynric Whitaker
Big Brother
LinkedIn

Brian Zaversnik
McCarthy Capital