Smith, a Warsaw native, brings expertise as well as a long-standing history within the community along with her, according to a news release from BBBSNEI. Having worked in the nonprofit sector her entire adult life, Smith knows the ins and outs of building that presence within her community.
She has been a Big Sister for over eight years and has seen firsthand the impact that the organization has on youth. With plenty of kids on the waitlist, specifically in Kosciusko County, Smith hopes to bridge the gap left by COVID-19 and create a larger number of long-lasting, one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
Smith has incredible passion for serving the community, dedicating most of her career and personal life to get involved in programs that focus on improving the lives of youth in the community. She spent over 19 years as a family development consultant and director of self-sufficiency programs at Combined Community Services, working with low-income families in every area of their lives to improve their economic situations. On top of that, Smith and her husband also fostered multiple children across eight years.
When asked what she hopes to achieve in this new role, Smith said, “I have big goals for 2022 and look forward to partnering with other nonprofit agencies, businesses and individuals who share the desire to help all youth succeed and thrive.”
Under the guidance of Smith operating in Kosciusko County, Big Brothers Big Sisters is hoping to serve 400 matches in the county by 2025. Currently, there are 15 Littles waiting for a mentor, but that number will continue to grow as there are many youth waiting to get on that waitlist, the news release states.
For more information about BBBSNEI, call 260-456-1600 or visit the website at www.bbbsnei.org.
