Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert was founded in 1997 serving the Coachella Valley youth between the ages of 6 to 18 in two core mentoring programs: Community-Based and Site-Based.
Our Purpose: For every child to have the opportunity to succeed in life and live up to their full potential.
Our Mission: Is to build and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the biggest possible futures for Coachella Valley youth.
Our Vision: All youth achieve their full potential.
Our History: In October 1995, two prominent members of the community came together to share their dream to start a Big Brother Big Sister affiliate. Realizing the need for a mentoring program to serve the children within the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs Mayor, William Kleindeinst and Dr. Stanley Gerston, LSCW and a former Executive Director of Jewish Big Brother of Los Angeles, joined forces and started Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert.
In August 1997, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert became an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and joined more than three hundred Big Brother Big Sister programs. In October 1997, Judy Tobin May was hired as the first Executive Director and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert was able to start offering their life changing one-to-one mentoring program to Coachella Valley youth in the community-based program. In 2001, the program expanded to include site-based mentoring in collaboration and partnership with after-school, facility-based youth programs.
Our Purpose: For every child to have the opportunity to succeed in life and live up to their full potential.
Our Mission: Is to build and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the biggest possible futures for Coachella Valley youth.
Our Vision: All youth achieve their full potential.
Our History: In October 1995, two prominent members of the community came together to share their dream to start a Big Brother Big Sister affiliate. Realizing the need for a mentoring program to serve the children within the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs Mayor, William Kleindeinst and Dr. Stanley Gerston, LSCW and a former Executive Director of Jewish Big Brother of Los Angeles, joined forces and started Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert.
In August 1997, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert became an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and joined more than three hundred Big Brother Big Sister programs. In October 1997, Judy Tobin May was hired as the first Executive Director and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert was able to start offering their life changing one-to-one mentoring program to Coachella Valley youth in the community-based program. In 2001, the program expanded to include site-based mentoring in collaboration and partnership with after-school, facility-based youth programs.
Over the years we are proud of the recognition and awards we have received including:
- 1998 - Dr. Stan Gerston, co-founder of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, received the Margaret Slack Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
- 2010 - Longtime staff member Joanne Leinow received the Skip Walsh Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
- 2023 - Established the Frank Gaeta Scholarship Fund.
- 2023 - Received the Agency Growth Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for a double-digit increase in children served.
- 2025 - Received the Agency Growth Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for a double-digit increase in children served.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert
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All logos licensed from BBBSA, all rights reserved
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