OUR HISTORY

Since 1982, Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Ohio has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. As part of the nation’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, we make meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”) ages 6 through 18 in communities across Ohio. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.

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.

ACCOUNTABILITY

By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community, we are accountable for each child in our program achieving:

High aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships
Avoidance of risky behavior
Educational success

OUR VALUES

We value

Commitment to children and youth - our primary goal is to provide mentorship and support children and youth, helping them realize their full potential through meaningful one -to-one relationships.

Integrity - We strive for honesty and transparency in our operations, ensuring that we maintain trust with the communities and families that we serve.

Inclusivity - Our organization promotes diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have access to mentorship and opportunities.

Partnership - We work collaboratively with schools, families, volunteers, and community organizations to provide the best possible support to youth.

Empowerment - Our organization focuses on empowering both the “Littles” (youth) and the “Bigs” (mentors) by fostering relationships that build confidence and personal growth.

DEIB

We are deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). Our approach to DEIB includes:

Fostering a Culture of Belonging - Our organization strives to create an inclusive environment where every young person, volunteer, board member, and staff member feels values, respected, and supported. We aim to make sure that all individuals, regardless of their background, feel like they belong and are welcomed.

Diversity in Representation - We are committed to reflecting the diversity of our communities that we serve. This means engaging with children, families, and mentors from all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Equity in Opportunities - We focus on ensuring that all youth, especially those from marginalized or underserved communities, have equal access to mentorship and the tools they need to succeed. we actively work to remove barriers that may prevent certain groups from benefiting from our programs.

Inclusion in Program Delivery - Our organization’s programs are designed to be culturally responsive and inclusive, ensuring that mentoring relationships are respectful of and sensitive to different backgrounds, abilities, and experiences.

Ongoing Education and Advocacy - We are committed to continuously educating our staff, volunteers, and stakeholders on issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We advocate for social justice and actively work to dismantle systemic inequalities that impact the communities we serve.

Meet Our Staff

Dr. Portia Smith

Program Coordinator

Putnam County Schools

Digital Content Creator

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Madison Richards

Program Coordinator

Hardin County

Social Media Content Creator

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Margo Lewis

Madison Richards

Program Coordinator

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Board of Directors

Kurt Neeper

President

Superior Financial Solutions, LLC

Dave Farley

Vice President

Retired, Ford Motor Company

Jeff Orphal

Treasurer

Apollo Career Center

Susan Wieser

Secretary

Volunteer

Curtis Butler

Retired, Ford Motor Company

Ric Johnson

President/CEO of CAPS Builder

Kathy Schroeder

Retired, Putnam County ESC

Jennifer Horstman

Executive Director, The Mental Health, Alcohol, and Drug Addiction Recovery

Karl Lammers

Superintendant, Kalida Local Schools

Doug Collins

Ford Motor Company

Dr. Portia G. Smith

Executive Director - BBBS of West Central Ohio, Inc.

OUR HISTORY

OUR MISSION

OUR VISION

ACCOUNTABILITY

OUR VALUES

DEIB

Meet Our Staff

Dr. Portia Smith

Dr. Portia Smith

Dr. Portia Smith

LeAnn Pryor

Dr. Portia Smith

Dr. Portia Smith

Leah Green

Dr. Portia Smith

Kattie Butler

Kattie Butler

Kattie Butler

Kattie Butler

Errin Boyer

Kattie Butler

Sarah Whited

Sarah Whited

Kattie Butler

Sarah Whited

Madison Richards

Madison Richards

Madison Richards

Margo Lewis

Madison Richards

Madison Richards

Board of Directors

Our Offices

BBBS Allen County

BBBS Hardin County

BBBS Hardin County

BBBS Hardin County

BBBS Hardin County

BBBS Hardin County

BBBS Putnam County

BBBS Hardin County

BBBS Putnam County

OUR PARTNERS

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