Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MA Welcomes Joy Moore to Board

NEWTON, Mass. – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM), New England’s largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate, is pleased to welcome Joy Moore, of Newton, to its Board of Directors. This addition follows the recent merger of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and Big Sister Association of Greater Boston (BSAGB), forming a unified effort to expand access to one-to-one youth mentoring programs across the region.

As part of the merger, BBBSEM will be integrating programs and staff from BSAGB. This includes welcoming new board members who bring extensive experience and dedication to gender-intentional mentoring and community-building for young girls, women, and gender-fluid youth. The combined efforts of these experienced leaders will significantly contribute to BBBSEM's mission of empowering youth to reach their full potential through mentorship.

“Our innovative approach to youth mentoring and ability to scale across 150 communities in Eastern Massachusetts enables us to have a profound impact on the lives of young people,” says Mark O'Donnell, BBBSEM President & CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome Moore and other esteemed members from Big Sister Association of Greater Boston to the board. Their unique expertise will help ensure we continue to expand our programs and reach more youth in the region, while preserving the best practices for gender-specific mentoring.”

Moore brings more than 35 years of experience in education, mentorship, and leadership to the Board of Directors at BBBSEM. A Newton native, she was deeply influenced by her family's involvement in the METCO program, hosting students from diverse backgrounds and experiencing firsthand the power of mentorship. Her time as a student at Dana Hall in Wellesley and Boston College and as former co-president of the ABC Program in Wellesley further instilled in her a passion for community involvement and supporting young people in their personal and academic growth.

"Growing up, I didn’t realize how much my mom was mentoring me,” says Moore. “But as I’ve gotten older, I see how much of her wisdom and support shaped me. I’ve always wanted to pass that on and help young people, particularly girls, find their voices and confidence."

Currently, Moore serves as the inaugural Vice President and Executive Director of the Pine Manor Institute for Student Success at Boston College, where she leads innovative programs for first-generation students and those from underserved communities. Her leadership has been integral to the creation of Messina College, a two-year college that prepares students for further education at Boston College. Previously, she served as the interim head of The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

BBBSEM Board of Directors commit to serving the organization over the course of two years. As a member, Moore will help to advance the agency’s mission, service to children, and impact. As a group, the Board establishes agency policy and sets strategic goals, as well as provides leadership and counsel to staff for strategic initiatives. Board members serve as enthusiastic goodwill ambassadors and actively advocate on behalf of the nonprofit and BBBSEM community.

In its 76th year of service, BBBSEM stands at its highest point as the second largest Big Brother Big Sister affiliate in the country, behind only the nonprofit covering the entire state of Texas. This year, the organization is supporting nearly 4,000 youth, over 50 percent of whom identify as female. In the past seven decades, BBBSEM has created and served more than 25,000 matches.

BBBSEM is now enrolling and matching Littles and Bigs. The organization welcomes Bigs and Littles of all races, ethnicities, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and physical abilities. For more information, to donate, or to become a volunteer or register your child, visit: www.emassbigs.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of nearly 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. Throughout its 75 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 25,000 youth. For more information about the agency and its mission, visit www.emassbigs.org.
###