Since our founding in 1959, thousands of donors and volunteer mentors have come together to inspire youth equity and empowerment across the Lincoln, Omaha and Council Bluffs communities.

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

 THANK YOU 

Your generosity in 2025 impacted more than 1,000 young people! Thank you for helping bring the proven power of mentorship to youth across the Lincoln, Omaha and Council Bluffs communities.

Over the past year, we strengthened high-quality, long-term mentoring relationships for young people while thoughtfully expanding our reach across Nebraska and western Iowa. Through our various programs, we addressed both immediate challenges and long-term outcomes related to education and workforce readiness.

Because of you, mentorship is creating real momentum for young people in our community. Your support ensures they have someone in their corner to offer encouragement and consistency.

We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership. Together, we are building brighter futures, and we cannot wait to see what the year ahead brings.

- 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. 
 
 
 

“Our family has been fortunate in many ways. That’s why it’s important to us to give back to organizations that uplift youth and families, especially those who haven’t had access to the same resources our kids have.” — Kari Kudron
 

Tim and Kari Kudron aren’t just supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters—they are true Game Changers whose values align deeply with the heart of mentorship. For the Kudrons, giving back is a family commitment rooted in gratitude, compassion and a belief in the power of relationships to transform futures.

They were drawn to Big Brothers Big Sisters because of the organization’s holistic, family-centered approach to mentoring.

As Tim often says, “If you help the family, you help the kids.”

That philosophy resonates throughout BBBS programs, where matches are strengthened not only by the bond between Bigs and Littles, but by the support systems that surround them.

For Tim and Kari, showing up for young people doesn’t always require grand gestures. Sometimes it’s being present. Sometimes it’s checking in. Sometimes it’s simply cheering from afar. What matters most is consistency and the steady presence of a caring adult who sees a young person’s potential and helps them believe in it too.
 

We’re genuinely grateful for Tim and Kari—and for donors like you. Your support makes it possible for more young people to experience the steady, caring mentorship that inspires confidence, strengthens families and opens doors to new opportunities.

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 COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING 

495 YOUTH SERVED ACROSS THE LINCOLN, OMAHA AND COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITIES
 

MEET EMILIANO!

It all started with a shared love of soccer and thanks to your support, it’s grown into something much more.

Three years ago, Emiliano (Little) and Ciro (Big) first met. Since then, they’ve built a strong, lasting relationship rooted in trust, respect and plenty of fun. To celebrate their third match anniversary, the duo met up for a friendly soccer game on the UNL campus, followed by a chicken strip stop at Raising Cane’s. Emiliano and Ciro are avid soccer players, so naturally, they enjoy getting out as often as they can. Besides soccer, they also enjoy fishing in the summer months.
 

The duo describes their match simply as “perfect.” Emiliano shares that Ciro has taught him to be a better person. In return, Ciro says Emiliano has reminded him how to stay young. Their bond hasn’t just made an impact on them—it’s made a difference for Emiliano’s entire family.

“Every time I look at my son, I am so proud of the man he is becoming. A majority of that is because of the support and guidance he has from his mentor, Ciro,” says Amy, Emiliano’s mom.

Matches like Emiliano and Ciro’s don’t happen by chance. They happen because of you. Your generosity makes it possible for youth to be surrounded by mentors who show up, listen and help them grow. Thank you for helping make this “perfect” match and so many others possible.

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 78% 4-year high school graduation rate, compared to their White peers at 92%.

- Nebraska Department of Education and Iowa Department of Education

BBBS Impact

 80%  maintained or improved their academic performance/grades

   99%  maintained or improved their overall educational expectations

 82%  maintained or improved their level of school connectedness

 SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

More than 96,000 Nebraska youth had a mental, emotional or behavioral condition, with anxiety (37,156) and ADHD (42,265) being the most common, yet only 47.6% of those needing counseling received it. 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.

- 2024 Kids Count in Nebraska Report

BBBS Impact

 91%  maintained or improved their ability to regulate their emotions

   90%  maintained or improved their levels of social competency

 27%  have decreased their level of depressive symptoms
 

AVOIDING RISKY BEHAVIORS

More than 7,850 youth were arrested in Nebraska in 2023, with property crimes (29.3%) and person crimes (28.2%) being the most common, and arrests disproportionately affecting Black (24.5%) and Hispanic (18%) 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.

- 2024 Kids Count in Nebraska Report

BBBS Impact

 88%  maintained or decreased the amount of school discipline experienced

  91%  maintained or decreased their level of participation in bullying

 91%  maintained or decreased their engagement in illegal activity

 96%  maintained or decreased their use of illegal substances


 

 MENTORU 

88 STUDENTS MATCHED AT SIX 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

 133  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

 77%  maintained or improved their overall educational expectations

 89%  maintained or improved their level of school connectedness

MEET MENTORU STUDENT CASSIE!

Cassie’s graduation came with more than a diploma. It came with a mentor who’s in it for the long haul. Our MentorU program celebrated four years of serving local students, and thanks to your support, the first class of seniors crossed the graduation stage last May.

Cassie first met her mentor, Jackie, at Thomas Jefferson High School in 2023. Through the MentorU program, the two built a strong, steady connection grounded in trust, encouragement and meaningful conversation about high school and beyond.

“MentorU helped me find my voice. I learned how to set goals and actually go for them,” says Cassie.
 

When Cassie graduated last May, their match didn’t end—it grew. Jackie and Cassie have now transitioned into our Community-Based Mentoring program. Now that Cassie has graduated, the two continue to meet one-on-one outside of school to explore Cassie’s goals and future plans. Cassie is also part of our Big Futures program, which helps young adults connect with colleges, universities, military recruiters and employers depending on their interests and future aspirations.

“I want to be successful and independent, and I know I’m on my way. I’ve worked hard to get here, and having a mentor like Jackie has made a big difference,” says Cassie.

Your investment in mentoring helps youth thrive, not just through high school but into adulthood. Because of you, Cassie knows she has someone in her corner, cheering her on every step of the way. Thank you for helping make it all possible!

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 FINANCIALS 

Total Revenue: $4,470,583

 31 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 1.9 MILLION pounds of clothing and used goods in 2025!

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

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Chair: Eric Johnson

Chair Elect: Nathan Scott
Forvis Mazars

Secretary: Amy Steffen
Fiserv

Treasurer: Robert Rutford
KPMG LLP

Kyle Cartwright
Civic Nebraska

Jason Cleary
Buildertrend

Jay Faylor
Pinnacle Bank

Jessica Hollister
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Jami Kemp
Physicians Mutual

Jaci Lindburg
University of Nebraska-Omaha

Brenda Paiz
MentorU Mentor
First National Bank

Jack Pettyrock
M-One Capital

Amber Phipps
Big Sister

Ryan Steinbach
Union Pacific Railroad

Carly Turner
Tenaska

Matt Whaley
HDR Architecture, Inc.

Cynric Whitaker
Big Brother
LinkedIn