Enjoy our pictures and videos from past events …
2023 Big Dream Gala
November 2, 2023
Bowl for Kids’ Sake
June 06, 2023
Holiday Party
December 10, 2022
Dream Big Fall Gala
October 20, 2022
It was a crisp and perfect fall evening for our Dream Big event as the Old Oaks Country Club welcomed us to their magnificent historical Purchase clubhouse.
Guests gathered to sip cocktails and sample the bountiful appetizers as they bid lively at the silent auction before sitting down to dinner honoring our 2022 Match of the Year, Big Brother Arthur and Little Brother Damon. Back by popular demand, world-renowned magician and mentalist Benjamin Levy capped off the evening with another memorably mind-bending performance.
Thank you to our incredible Platinum Sponsors Sydney & Robert Kindler and Jackie & Rich Meisenberg; Gold Sponsors Tracey & Mark Bilski, Brian Hesse and The Vranos Family Foundation; Silver Sponsors Deborah & David Boillot, Rosana & Christopher Colliniates and Ann & David Yaspan; and Bronze Sponsors Ebonette Bates Hudson, Gregg Cartagine & Reed Chaikin and Mercury Resources, as well as everyone who bid so generously at our Silent and Live Auctions.
Thank you also to Jeff Cadge of Cadge Productions for such a moving video, to Fred Galloway and the Soul Fusion Band for kicking off the party with such a delightful vibe, to Jimmy the Baker for the decadent take-home goodie bag treats, to our volunteer auctioneer Brian Hesse — aluminum company CEO and BBBS Board Chair by day, fundraiser extraordinaire by night — and to our phenomenal staff, program managers and tireless volunteers.
Summer Games
July 16, 2022
Our 2022 Summer Games were a delight, from the moment the first Bigs, Littles and their families arrived at Crawford Park to the last inning of our traditional pick-up softball game. The weather was perfect — not too hot but warm with smiles, laughter, games, prizes, great food, lively music and our legendary summer reading book table.
And did we mention board member Nick Wolff’s guest appearance as the “cotton candy man” and Living Word Christian Church’s incredible generosity in supplying back-to-school backpacks for every child?
Bowl for Kids’ Sake
June 7, 2022
Our first Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser since 2019 came rolling back on Tuesday, June 7th at Bowlero Lanes in White Plains and it was a striking success! This beloved community event—sidelined for two years by Covid restrictions—attracted Bigs, Littles and teams of all ages, from our top fundraisers, the Gutter Girls, to Every Strike Counts, the Lucky Strikes, the High Rollers and Split Happens.
This year’s event raised nearly $20,000 for our Big Futures Program, which provides educational and career counseling to our high school Littles during the school year and structured internship opportunities for our rising seniors and college-age Littles during the summer.
Thank you to our sponsors—PerenniAL, Rakow Commercial Realty Group, RPW Group, Simone Development Companies and Ebonette Bates Hudson—and to all of our donors and participants. Your enthusiasm and generosity truly bowled us over and we are very grateful for your support!
The Lucky Strikes had enthusiasm to spare!
Holiday Party
December 11, 2021
Our Holiday Party is always one of the year’s highlights, but it was even more special this year because it brought our Bigs, Littles, families, staff and volunteers together to celebrate the season in person.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to:
John F. Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School for hosting us at their beautiful Somers campus.
BBBS parent Alecia Compass and her company JMJ BalloonGarlands for creating and meticulously installing the gloriously creative and festive balloon decorations that brightened our tables and made such a beautiful backdrop for our Santa photos.
Board member Brian Hesse and his amazing team at Rusal America for their incredibly generous financial donation and for working so tirelessly to help us wrap gifts for the children.
Board member Dr. Joe Cole and our wonderful partner, Westmed Medical Group, for donating holiday packages of school supplies to every child.
Andersons Larchmont bookstore for donating such an abundant, wonderful book table that every party guest of every age could take home the perfect book to read over the holidays.
Students at the Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law for conducting such a caring and successful toy drive.
The staff at The Gap in Larchmont who got together as a group to put presents under the tree for one of our families -- a grandmother and her three grandchildren.
The United Way for sourcing a fabulous donation of bedding, pillows, comforters, towels and robes from Brooklinen.
Toys for Tots for helping us make sure every child had a special gift to open on Christmas morning.
Our stalwart supporters who conducted toy drives at Starbucks stores in Rye, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Bronxville and Tuckahoe.
Each and every one of our treasured staff members, Board members and volunteers!
The Next Big Thing Fall Gala
October 22, 2021
It was perfect autumn weather for our first in-person fall fundraising gala since 2019. The Old Oaks Country Club welcomed us to their magnificent historical Purchase clubhouse with meticulous attention to every detail, starting with Covid safety.
From cocktails on the breathtaking terrace to the fabulous silent auction, the feeling of “homecoming” was in the air as Bigs and Littles, supporters and friends caught up and connected away from their Zoom screens.
Then it was on to a delicious dinner, a heartfelt tribute to our Match of the Year, Kari and Cheryl, and mind-bending entertainment from nationally renowned magician and mentalist Benjamin Levy.
Thank you to our incredible sponsors Sydney & Robert Kindler, Jackie & Rich Meisenberg, ACK Asset Management, Tracey & Mark Bilski, Deborah & David Boillot, The Vranos Family Foundation, Lynda & David Archer, Daniel Blank, Art Crozier, Lena & Joseph Gershenov, Mitzi & Ron Lumbra, Barbara & Gary Tolman, Joyce & Ron Nelson, Kate & Robert Niehaus, Lisa & Joe Purcell, Ebonette Bates Hudson, Kari Black, Lisa & Bill Fallon, Blake & Andrew Foote, Joele Frank & Laurence Klurfeld, Gregg Cartagine & Reed Chaikin, Brian Healy, Raymond McDaniel, Gary Zahakos, and all those who bid so generously at our Silent and Live Auctions.
Thank you also to Jeff Cadge of Cadge Productions for such a moving video, to Fred Galloway and the Soul Fusion Band for kicking off the party with such a delightful vibe, to Lena Gershenov for creating the bountiful (and literally good enough to eat) fall centerpieces, to Jimmy the Baker for the decadent take-home goodie bag treats, to our volunteer auctioneer Brian Hesse — aluminum company CEO and BBBS Advisory Council member by day who turned into P.T. Barnum showman by night — and to our phenomenal staff, program managers, and tireless volunteers.
Last but definitely not least, thank you to Frank Rocco Photography for immortalizing the evening through his warm and wonderful photos. To relive every special moment of our Next Big Thing fall gala, click HERE or on the button above the collage to enjoy a complete slideshow.
Summer Games
August 7, 2021
The Big Duck Derby & Picnic
June 13, 2021
Our first annual Big Duck Derby and Picnic fundraiser at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers was a delightful afternoon of rubber duck racing and picnicking to benefit our youth mentoring programs.
We couldn’t have asked for more gorgeous weather for the first in-person event we’ve held in over a year and we especially want to thank our event sponsor, Keep Insurance Agency for making such a fun afternoon possible.
Guests raved about the gourmet pizza from Arthur Avenue Wood Fired Pizza, while everyone cheered on their numbered rubber ducks as they raced across the pond in pursuit of prizes donated by Target, Rye Grill and Bar, The Taphouse, Treetop Adventures and MOM's Organic Market.
Virtual Gala — The Next Big Thing
November 18, 2020
Our 2020 Virtual Gala on November 18, 2020 celebrated the Magic of Mentoring with a nonstop hour of videos, magic, fun and fundraising. Watch every minute of the evening here and check out our special tribute journal!
All in one fast-paced hour, our Bigs and Littles share how mentoring has transformed their lives, nationally famous magician and mentalist Matthew Furman performs, we spotlight and thank our incredible community of Bigs, Littles and supporters, and honor Edgar and Darian as our 2020 Big and Little Brother of the Year.
2020 Drive-By Summer Games
July 17, 2020
Our traditional Summer Games went socially distanced this year, with a "drive-by" event held in the parking lot of the Center for All Ages in White Plains on Friday, July 17, 2020. Thanks to the generosity of Jackie and Rich Meisenberg, Littles and their families picked up delicious bag lunches, chose backpacks filled with school supplies donated by Living Word Christian Church in White Plains, and received goody bags filled with small items for big summer fun. Our BBBS Summer Interns donned protective gear to help out and reported that there were delighted smiles behind every one of those masks you see!
BBBS Annual Holiday Party
December 14, 2019
It was a record turnout this year as BBBS of FSW volunteers and staff gathered with Bigs, Littles and their families for what everyone agreed was the best holiday party ever!
Thank you to these wonderful individuals and organizations who made this special day possible:
... to Rye Country Day School for hosting us on their beautiful campus
... to Barnes & Noble Yonkers for piling our Holiday giveaway book table high with brand-new donated books for all ages
... to Bombas for donating warm and cozy socks to our Littles and their families
... to MBIA and Mastercard for helping us festively wrap and label our bounty of holiday gifts
... to Starbucks Scarsdale for their generosity in donating gift cards and other holiday gifts
... to Gina DeCrescenzo, P.C. and her firm of special education attorneys for her tireless work on behalf of children with special needs
... to the Siemens Healthineers for being wonderful volunteer and health care partners
... to the FSW Junior Board, the BBBS Advisory Council Board, our BBBS staff and our BIGS for being everywhere, doing everything at every moment to make the day a success
... to our many Toy Drive donors who stepped up to make the holidays special for our Little Brothers and Sisters
... to Jude Westerfield and her team of decorating elves for transforming the RCDS Athletic Center into a winter wonderland
... and to everyone else who may not fit into one of the categories above but is uniquely special in our eyes!
The Next Big Thing Fall Fundraiser
October 26, 2019
The Next Big Thing was an evening of magic from beginning to end, as our fall fundraiser honored Debbie Linder as Big Sister of the Year and world-famous mentalist Oz Pearlman wowed the crowd with his mind-bending mind-reading performance.
Thank you to our sponsors, auction donors, volunteers and everyone who supported us with their contributions and auction bids for your enthusiasm and generosity. Because of you, our mission to mentor the children of Westchester County can deepen and grow. We are SO grateful to each and every one of you!
Summer Games & BBQ
July 20, 2019
Everyone had a sizzling good time at our Annual Summer Games! Our Bigs, Littles, families and volunteers braved a 100-degree heat wave to come out and join in the fun. From the free books at the summer reading table to the incredible back-to-school backpacks donated by Living Word Christian Church, the softball game, the mini-golf, the barbecue, the DJ, and the impromptu squirt bottle fights and runs through the sprinklers, it was a warm and wonderful day.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake Fundraiser
June 6, 2019
28 teams and over 150 people had a ball raising money to support our mentoring programs. Thanks to our sponsors and many generous donors, we EXCEEDED our fundraising goal!
Click below to see photos from this year’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake.
Summer Games — 2018
Special thanks to all who attended this year's Summer Games, which brought together Bigs, Littles, families and friends at Saxon Woods Park in Mamaroneck!
Big Game Day at Dave & Busters
July 15, 2018
This great recruiting event with our Bigs, Littles and future Bigs, featured appearances by New York Jets players Lorenzo Mauldin, Terrelle Pryor and Elijah McGuire. Everyone enjoyed a fun afternoon of lunch, gaming and friend-raising at Dave and Busters in Pelham.
