Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey to Host
National Mentoring Month Award Ceremony

(NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.) — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey (BBBSCNNJ) will host their National Mentoring Month Appreciation Event and Award Ceremony on Tuesday, January 28, 2020.

Six BBBSCNNJ mentors will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program during their annual Mentoring Month Appreciation event from 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. at The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center, 10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, N.J., 08901. The event is free and open to the public.

“These Bigs have volunteered countless hours and gone above and beyond for their Littles, ” declared William Salcedo, Executive Director of BBBSCNNJ. “The Bigs act as mentors, guides, and friends to the Littles, while promoting educational success, better relationships, and overall wellbeing. They play a crucial role in helping the Littles achieve their maximum potential and that is why we celebrate them every day, and honor them each year.”

Award recipients were selected from five program areas: Community Based, Workplace, School Based, College and Bigs in Blue (law enforcement).

The 2019 BBBSCNNJ Bigs of the Year:

Community Based Big Sister and Little of the Year
Karen Bottari, Hair Stylist & Little Sister Tyquayshia (Monmouth County)

Community Based Big Brother and Little of the Year
Andrew Mahnken of Wells Fargo & Little Brother Ethan (Monmouth County)

Workplace Big of the Year
Jacqueline Berlengi (BMW of North America, LLC Program, Bergen County)

School Based Big of the Year
Kate Saldivar (Perth Amboy High School/Shull Middle School Program, Middlesex County)

College Big of the Year
Christine Sae (Ramapo College Program/Paterson Elementary School #5, Passaic County)

Bigs in Blue Big of the Year
Nichelle Ponder (Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Bergen County)

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey
BBBSCNNJ provides one-to-one mentoring for youth ages 6-18 through our Community Based, School Based, Workplace, College, Bigs in Blue, Kids Club, and Back on Track Programs. By placing children in a quality mentoring relationship, we are able to provide them with the tools they need to become competent, confident, and caring members of their community. To learn more, visit mentornj.org.
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