Celebrating 50 Years of Mentorship, Inspiring Futures, and Building Community

In 2026, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey will celebrate a powerful milestone: 50 years of igniting the power and promise of youth through mentorship.

Throughout the year, we’ll honor the past, present, and future of mentoring with a yearlong anniversary campaign themed “Celebrating 50 Years, Inspiring Futures.” This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on five decades of meaningful relationships—and to recommit to ensuring every child who needs a mentor has one in their corner.

A Year of Celebration and Impact

Beginning in March, our signature events, including Bowl for Kids’ Sake, will feature special anniversary elements, leading up to a 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 5, 2026, at Bell Works in Holmdel. Each event will highlight the relationships, community support, and impact that have sustained our mission and impact for 50 years.

“Fifty years is a remarkable milestone, and one that gives us the chance to celebrate how far we’ve come while looking ahead to the work still to be done,” said William Salcedo, Executive Director of BBBSCNNJ. “This anniversary is more than a celebration, it’s a call to action. Our goal is to ensure that no child in our communities grows up without a mentor in their corner.”

Honoring Partners Who Help Shape the Future

As part of the anniversary, BBBSCNNJ has launched its Founders Circle, a legacy initiative recognizing partners whose leadership and generosity are helping secure the future of youth mentoring.

We’re proud to acknowledge our inaugural Founders Circle members:

Visionary Level: Hackensack Meridian Health, The Morris & Clara Weshnak Family Foundation. RWJBarnabas Health, and Frank & Karen Wardzinski
Champion Level: New Jersey Natural Gas
Advocate Level: C Suite Assets, The Citta Foundation, Delta Dental, Garden Savings Federal Credit Union, Hope for Children’s Foundation, and UBS Alpha Legacy Wealth Management

Their early commitment reflects a shared belief in the power of mentorship and the promise of the next 50 years.

Join Us in Celebrating, and Building, What’s Next

Additional announcements, special events, and commemorative initiatives will be shared in the coming months. The official kickoff of our 50th Anniversary Campaign will take place at the annual Mentor Appreciation Night in January 2026, in honor of National Mentoring Month.

Whether you’ve been part of our story for years or are just discovering BBBSCNNJ, there are many ways to be involved:

Become a mentor and change a young person’s life
Make a donation to support life-changing matches
Subscribe to our email list to stay up to date on anniversary events and opportunities

Together, we’re celebrating 50 years of impact, and inspiring futures for generations to come.