LANCASTER– Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Ohio was honored with the Platinum Award for Excellence and named Small Agency of the Year.
The agency was given recognition at the 2025 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Conference held in Philadelphia. More than 230 agencies from across the nation attend this yearly conference.
These awards highlight BBBSSEO’s commitment to creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth across the region. The Platinum Award signifies top-tier performance in key areas such as match support, recruitment, community engagement, and overall youth impact, according to a news release.
The agency has served 638 youth in the region while remodeling its 24,000 square-foot building.
Courtney Wright, Board President, praised the agency in a new release, saying, “These awards reflect years of thoughtful leadership, hard work, and heart. Every team member, mentor, volunteer, donor, and board member has played a role in helping us reach this incredible milestone and we appreciate them all. We are just getting started.”
Adding to the momentum, the agency recently celebrated the launch and success of its newest social-purpose enterprise located within the agency’s space – The Big Book Nook. The store offers gently used books for all ages, affordable reading options and a space for youth to read and learn, with every purchase supporting BBBSSEO programs.
“To be recognized at the national level is incredibly validating for our team, our board, our volunteers, and our community,” said Jolyn Pugh, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Ohio. “It speaks to the dedication we all share to empowering local youth and building brighter futures. The timing couldn’t be better as we continue to see The Big Book Nook exceed all expectations. It’s a place where stories spark change, and every sale helps us serve more kids.”
Adding context to the remarkable achievements of BBBSSEO, Jeff Beard, former board president shared this insight, “When the board made the decision to hire Jolyn as the next director, we were excited about the energy and ideas she was bringing, but her leadership and the organization’s achievements have surpassed even our highest expectations. My fellow board alumni and myself are incredibly proud of everyone who has come together to make this moment happen – and we are excited to see what’s next. Truly the sky is the limit!”
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Big Brothers Big Sisters of honored with national awards including Small Agency of the Year
Reporting by Staff Report / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
