WHO WE ARE
"The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult." -Center on the Developing Child
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida (BBBSNEFL), is a mentoring organization that creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Working within the communities of Northeast Florida since 1914, BBBSNEFL has effectively inspired change in the lives of thousands through impactful mentoring programs and meaningful relationships that defend and ignite today’s youth to reach their full potential. We currently have active matches in Nassau, Duval, Baker, Clay, and Volusia Counties including a service footprint reaching Putnam, Flagler and Union Counties.
By placing a caring adult in the life of a child, BBBSNEFL creates safe, high-quality, long-lasting mentoring relationships that help vulnerable youth beat the odds and reach their full potential through personal and academic achievement. Professionally supported by our staff, road-maps for success are developed in concert with parents, children, and mentors.
More than 100 years later, Big Brothers Big Sisters remains true to our founder’s vision of bringing allies and defenders into the lives of children. Today, Big Brothers Big Sisters currently operates in all 50 states and in 12 countries around the world!
OUR IMPACT...
We encourage you to view our Impact Reports to see how we've set our foundation, transitioned our program alignment and re-established growth patterns in all realms of our agency over time. We aim to innovate, engage and strengthen our organization year-round.
IN 2023-24, WE MADE A BIG IMPACT
youth were served in
Northeast Florida
were promoted on time
to the next grade
children maintained
or improved attendance
youth had no behavioral
referrals or suspensions
*Statistics based on metrics obtained for ~591 of 648 matches served
MEET THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA TEAM
SARA ALFORD
Chief Executive Officer
Favorite Childhood Memory:
Cooking with my mom
SAMANTHA DECARLO
Education Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Toy:
A basketball
ISABELLE DEDRICK
Enrollment Match Specialist
Favorite Childhood Movie:
Mary Poppins
BEVERLY FILER
Vice President of Programs
Favorite Childhood Activity:
Playing Softball
CHELSEA FOUT
Match Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Memory:
Fishing with my dad
RACHONDA GROVER
Match Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Toy:
Cabbage Patch Doll
KACIE HARLEY
Area Manager - Clay County
Favorite Childhood Show:
Wonder Woman
MARILYN HILL
Enrollment Match Specialist
Favorite Childhood Movie:
Wizard of Oz
CHERIE HUTTMAN
Enrollment Match Specialist
Favorite Childhood Show:
Leave it to Beaver
LAURA LANG
Quality Assurance Specialist
Favorite Childhood Movie:
Sister Act
CATALINA LOPEZ
Match Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Toy:
Shakira Barbie
STELLA NAÑES
Enrollment Match Specialist
Favorite Childhood Toy:
Speak and Spell
MICHELLE PATRICK
Director of Quality
Assurance & Compliance
Favorite Childhood Toy:
Rubik's Cube
DANA PORCELLI
Match Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Movie:
The Little Mermaid
LENA RAMSAY
Area Manager - Nassau County
Favorite Childhood Show:
Who's the Boss
TINA RICH
Match Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Toy:
Nintendo
KORTNEY ROBAK
Match Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Memory:
Daddy-Daughter Dances
JULIE SOLOMON
Chief Financial Officer
Favorite Childhood Toy:
Easy Bake Oven
HARLAN STALLINGS
Director of Volunteer Recruitment
Favorite Childhood Show:
G-Force: Guardians of Space
ETHAN THOMAS
Project Assistant
Favorite Childhood Movie:
The Incredibles
JACQUELYN TOLBERT
Match Support Specialist
Favorite Childhood Toy:
Alf
DAISERAE WHITE
Director of Communications & Outreach
Favorite Childhood Show:
A Different World
OUR FOCUS...
For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida has been helping change kids’ perspectives and giving them the opportunity to reach their potential. Since 1914, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through high school graduation in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
We recognize, affirm, and celebrate the diverse backgrounds, lives, and experiences of all of our stakeholders, including youth, families, donors, volunteers, and staff. We ensure the opportunity for all voices and perspectives to be heard and honored. In the workplace, we foster an environment where all people can be their best selves. We affirm that every person has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We strive to realize the full potential that is within all of us by ensuring that all voices and perspectives are heard and honored.