Bigs of the Year and Corporation of the Year to be recognized at Big Thank You breakfast presented by Publix Super Markets Charities on January 12
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County will celebrate the 2023 Bigs of the Year for their outstanding mentorship to young people at its Big Thank You Breakfast presented by Publix Super Markets Charities during National Mentoring Month. The breakfast, slated for 8 a.m. on January 12 at Signature Grand, will honor Big Brother of the Year Detective Larry Scates, Big Sister of the Year Lisa Tumminello, High School Big Brother of the Year Logan Lamy, and High School Big Sister of the Year Liya Johny. These exceptional volunteers were chosen out of 1,000 mentors in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County program.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County also will recognize MedPro Healthcare Staffing as Corporate Partner of the Year for its outstanding participation in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County’s School to Work program.
“All of our honorees – our Bigs of the Year and Corporate Partner of the Year – exemplify what it means to selflessly go above and beyond to give back to the youth in our community. They truly shine a light on the lifechanging impact of mentoring,” said Malena Mendez, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. “Huge congratulations to our 2023 winners for their exceptional commitment to our youth.”
Bigs Brother of the Year Larry Scates, a detective at Coconut Creek Police Department and a resident of Coconut Creek, is a Big Brother to Elijah as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County’s Bigs in Blue program. Scates was matched in 2019 with Elijah, an extremely rambunctious and boisterous 10-year-old at the time. Scates served as a role model, helping Elijah learn how to make better choices, develop social skills and simply have fun. Larry and Elijah spend many hours together playing mini golf, going to events, fishing and just hanging out. Larry also went above and beyond for Elijah and his family when a financial crisis hit during the pandemic. He was able to connect the family with multiple resources to get them back on their feet.
“Larry has been really nice and caring not only to Elijah, but to the whole family,” said Lateefa Wedderburn, Elijah’s mother. “He always goes above and beyond to ensure Elijah is doing well. He’s such a nice person that I am at a loss for words. Elijah and all of us really appreciate everything he has done for us – we all love him very much.”
Big Sister of the Year Lisa Tumminello, a resident of Hollywood, has developed a strong relationship with her Little Pica, 17. Tumminello, who was matched with Pica three years ago, has helped Pica bring up her grades from failing to As and Bs, and helped her discover a stronger sense of self and a higher level of confidence. When the two met, Pica was shy and introverted. Now Pica is much more confident, even taking the leading role in a poetry workshop and a high school performance in front of more than 100 people. Tumminello’s unconditional love and unwavering support has helped Pica to be her true, authentic self. Tumminello makes it a priority to be an amazing, consistent and altruistic Big Sister to her Little Pica.
“Ms. Lisa has had an amazing impact on my daughter,” said Elizabeth Delgado, Pica’s mother. “Pica is now more open, smiles often and gets involved in more activities that she otherwise wouldn’t have without Ms. Lisa’s support. She’s not only Pica’s Big Sister, she’s also part of our family. I appreciate everything Ms. Liza and this amazing program has done for us.”
Big Sister Tumminello and Big Brother Scates are now in contention for the Florida Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year. The Florida Bigs of the Year are chosen from a pool of nominees provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the state. One Big Sister and one Big Brother who personifies what it means to be a defender of potential is selected by the Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida.
High School Big Brother of the Year Logan Lamy, 14, a freshman at South Plantation High School who lives in Fort Lauderdale, has been matched with Daryl since October. Daryl, a 4th grader at Plantation Park Elementary, struggles in school. Daryl’s challenges at school affected his emotional wellbeing, and his self-esteem and self-worth plummeted. Lamy, who has taken his role as Big very seriously in the short time he has been matched with Daryl, has helped pull him out of this negative state of mind. Lamy hasn’t missed a mentoring session, gives Daryl his undivided attention, listens, makes him feel safe and helps with his schoolwork. Daryl continues to benefit tremendously from Lamy’s attention and simply lights up when Lamy enters the room.
High School Big Sister of the Year Liya Johny, a 12th grader at Nova High School, has been a Big Sister to Aniya since last January. Johny is very responsible and is a great role model to Aniya. As they work together on Aniya’s academics, Johny is extremely patient and understanding with her Little, who is a 5th grader at Nova Blanche Forman Elementary. Johny also stepped in to mentor Aniya’s sibling, Sydney, 10, while Sydney waits to be matched with her own Big Sister. Over and above mentoring Aniya, Johny helped recruit many other high school Bigs by referring Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County to the Key Club at her school. Johny, 17, is a resident of Pembroke Pines.
Corporate Partner of the Year MedPro Healthcare Staffing launched a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County School to Work Workplace Mentoring Program last year. Since then, their partnership has flourished with 36 MedPro team members matched with juniors and seniors at Dillard High School in Sunrise. Plus, the MedPro team developed a formal curriculum for School to Work, including mock interviews, presentations skills, practice interviews and more, as well as fun activities to better connect the MedPro Bigs to their Littles.
The curriculum was so effective that it was adapted by other School to Work corporate participants and is now a model for the program. MedPro leaders report that its growing School to Work program not only changes the lives of students, but also positively affects the culture of their organization.
“Participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters School to Work Mentoring Program truly has been a valuable experience not only for the Littles from Dillard High but also for our team members,” said Liz Tonkin, president and CEO of MedPro Healthcare Staffing. “The youth have been attentive, interested and committed, and our staff has enjoyed every minute of sharing their knowledge and expertise and connecting with these great teens. We are proud to be a part of School to Work and look forward to growing the program in the future.”
All the Bigs of the Year and Corporate Partner of the Year MedPro will be honored at the BIG Thank You Breakfast at 8 a.m. on January 12 at the Signature Grand, 6900 West State Road 84 in Davie. Tickets are $65 and sponsorships are available. In addition to presenting sponsor Publix Super Markets Charities, sponsors include platinum sponsor UKG, silver sponsors JM Family Enterprises and Royal Caribbean, and bronze sponsor Bank of America. For more information or to register for the Big Thank You Breakfast, please visit https://www.bbbsbroward.org/big-thank-you-breakfast/.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County is dedicated to creating and supporting mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Its larger vision is for all youth to achieve their full potential. For more information, visit www.bbbsbroward.org or call (954) 584-9990.
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