Big Brothers Big Sisters in Williams Lake is hosting an open house Thursday to say goodbye retiring excutive director Lorraine Levitt and welcome the new executive director, Melissa Newberry.
Levitt has been working for BBBS for 27 years.
She was hired in June 1987 as a part-time co-ordinator while working full time as a commercial credit/mortgage officer with Scotia Bank.
“At the time I was hired there were seven matches,” Levitt says.
“Some were active and some were not. For a number of years I juggled both jobs until BBBS was getting too large to handle on a part time basis.
“I ended up leaving the bank for a job where my heart was invested.”
She says BBBS now has a caseworker to manage the school-based mentoring program, and another caseworker to manage the traditional Big Brother Big Sister program.
“We also employ an assistant to me who manages the bookkeeping and assists with both Bowl for Kid’s Sake and the Tour de Cariboo, two of our largest fundraising events,” Levitt says.
“In 2013 we served 174 children in one on one matches.”
People wishing to meet Newberry and say goodbye to Levitt, who is moving to Kamloops are invited to stop by the centre at 200-369 Oliver Street between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, June 26.