About Us
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Impacting Children of Prisoners.
Agency Background and History
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston (BBBS) is a private, nonprofit mentoring organization and an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Founded in 1950, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston serves more than 2,300 children annually with volunteer mentors. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston is a United Way agency.
Our Founder
We were first called "Big Brothers of Houston" when Oved Essary founded us in 1950. Oved was then president of the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce, and was concerned with the number of boys who had lost fathers in World War II. He had been a Big Brother in Dallas prior to moving to Houston.
With the Chamber's backing, several prominent men in Houston became Big Brothers. In the first year, the agency matched 30 boys with Big Brothers.
Oved's own mentoring story in Houston is a perfect example of the program's impact. Oved was matched with Jerry Gilliam, a young man who lost his father to a railroad explosion. Jerry's job delivering newspapers was his family's only source of income. In addition to that pressure, Jerry was acting out in school and getting into trouble. Oved came along at the right time. By sharing everyday activities like going fishing and going to baseball games with Oved, Jerry saw another side to life. In his words, "(Oved) introduced me to the good people."
After their match was over, the two lost touch for several years. One day, Oved and his wife
Jerry (left) and Oved (right), 2007
were visiting a new orthodontist with their two children when they were surprised to see Jerry walk through the door! Oved says the two hugged like old friends. It was then that Oved saw the impact he had on Jerry; Jerry was studying to become an orthodontist himself, and credits Oved with helping encourage him to become a success.
In 2007, Big Brothers Big Sisters reunited Oved and Jerry for the first time in more than 40 years. To see a video of that meeting, click here.
Agency Funding
The organization is funded primarily through private gifts and grants. Special events including Bowl for Kids' Sake, golf tournaments, and the annual "Magic of Mentoring Gala" are the agency's secondary source of support. Generous support is also provided by the United Way of Greater Houston. BBBS has been a United Way agency almost as long as it has been in existence.
