History
1904 - The first organized Big Brothers program was established through the Men’s Club of New York’s Central Presbyterian Church.
1975 - Under Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburgh, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westmoreland County was formed to serve all of Westmoreland County.
1979 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westmoreland County broke from the Pittsburgh agency and was officially incorporated.
1986 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westmoreland County became a full member agency with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
1988 - The new BBBSA national headquarters building in Philadelphia is dedicated by U.S. Vice President George H.W. Bush.
1994 - The first “After-School Tutoring” program began in the Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary School in Greensburg.
2001 - Services were expanded to cover all of Fayette County and Westmoreland County. The agency name was changed to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region, and a branch office opened in Uniontown with one full-time and one part-time staff person.
2001 - The first “Lunch Buddies” program began in the Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary School in Greensburg.
2003 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region received a “Community Impact Winner” award from Dominion People’s Gas Lunch Buddies program in partnership with California University of Pennsylvania and the Brownsville School District.
2005 - First Lady Laura Bush officially endorses Big Brothers Big Sisters and appears in nationally-broadcast TV commercials and PSA’s.
2005 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region received an “Excellence in Mentoring” award from The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania for the Lunch Buddies program in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and the Greensburg Salem School District.
2005 - Staffing in the Uniontown office increased to two full-time staff persons, and Fayette County school-based mentoring enrollment tripled from previous enrollment figures. Services are now provided in ten elementary schools in six different school districts throughout both Fayette and Westmoreland Counties.
2006 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region is recognized by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for excellence in average match length in both community-based and school-based mentoring programs.
2006 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region received the 2006 “Committed to Excellence” award for Youth Development from the Fayette County Branch of the NAACP.
2006 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region serves over 500 children during the year (514), marking the first time in agency history of breaking the 500-match plateau.
2007 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region is recognized by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as one of the top 35 performing agencies in the nation based on significant improvements in revenue growth, growth in children served, and growth in new matches.
2007 - Big Sister, Michelle Timothy of Greensburg, is named the “2007 State of Pennsylvania College Big Sister of the Year.” Michelle participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region’s school-based mentoring programs at Hutchinson Elementary School in Greensburg for two years, successfully serving multiple matches during her volunteerism.
2008 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region serves 618 children during the year, marking the highest amount in agency history.
2009 - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region is recognized as a rising agency by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and is accepted into the national Agency Information Management (AIM) system.