Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Marie Veneroni
Hi Anne Marie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After graduating from Michigan State University, I started my career doing sales for a large book publisher in New York City. I moved on to lifestyle and media sales at other companies and enjoyed success there as well. I was ambitious and loved the experience of living and working in NYC. After the birth of my first daughter, I stepped away from professional life for several years to focus my attention on working in my home and raising a family. I was fortunate to have had this choice and am grateful for the time it afforded me with my kids and to take stock of my career and think about what I wanted to do next. After returning to the Detroit area, it was time to get back to working outside the home. I realized sales wasn’t for me, but that I could apply the skillset I learned to other professions. Sales taught me the value of authentic relationships and I can do that all day long! I started working part-time at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw County as an Event Coordinator. I planned fundraising events and made cold calls to identify and secure sponsors. It was fun and I fell in love with the organization’s mission: to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. I’ve worn many hats at BBBS since I started 8 years ago and worked harder than I ever did in corporate America. I’m proud to have grown into the role of Director of Development.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say the road was rough or smooth, but it wasn’t a straight line. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated from college, but I knew I wanted to move to New York City and live my own life. I needed a job that could pay the rent and provide me with health insurance. Was Sales Assistant my dream job? No. Did I have a bad attitude about “paying my dues” and doing work I thought was below me. Yes. But in hindsight, it didn’t matter. It provided professional, real life experience that I was able to build upon and that is what ultimately led me to better understand my strengths and weaknesses and define what I wanted and what I did not want out of my work life. As a development professional, there will always be challenging days! You develop a thick skin and don’t take the “NOs” personally. I believe in the mission I raise money and awareness for and I hope that comes through in my outreach to prospective donors and corporate partners.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan?
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Michigan is a one-to-one mentoring organization that serves youth between the ages of 7 to 18 in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties. We carefully and intentionally match a trusted adult volunteer (the “Big”) with a young person (the “Little”) that wants and needs a mentor. These “Matches” get together at least twice a month and do things they both enjoy. That could mean seeing a movie, playing basketball or video games, tackling some homework, cooking, visiting a museum – whatever they decide to do together. Big Brothers Big Sisters also organizes many activities each month that matches can choose to participate in. Each month, a BBBS Match Support Specialist checks in with the Big, the Little and their family to see how things are going and offer support, advice and encouragement. BBBS also offers school/site -based programs that take place in elementary, middle and high schools across our service area. Once a week at lunchtime, Bigs join their Littles at school for a BBBS staff-facilitated experience. Whether it’s community or school based programming, relationships are forged and a positive, lifelong impact is made on both the Big and the Little.
The positive outcomes of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are proven. BBBS Littles are 20% more likely to enroll in college and they’ll earn 15% more throughout their lifetime than non-mentored youth. They are 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 52% less likely to skip school and 33% less likely to hit someone. A recent 30-year BBBS of America study, in conjunction with Harvard University, indicates that being a Little closes the economic gap by 2/3. These results are significant and speak to the long-term impact that the BBBS program has on youth and the community at large. Our Bigs report that they often feel like they’re getting more out of being Matched than their Little! They get to feel like a kid again and that they’re making a difference. Many of our Matches stay in touch with each other long after their BBBS relationship ends. There are countless stories of Littles standing in their Bigs’ wedding, sharing in family celebrations like the birth of a child and supporting one another through life’s ups and downs.
At BBBS, we believe in the inherent potential that lives in every young person. Our vision is that all youth achieve their full potential. BBBS is a donor-supported non profit. We could not do this essential work without the ongoing support of our volunteers, donors and corporate partners. That said, the entire Southeast Michigan community is invited to attend and support our upcoming fundraiser, The Great Big Auction! Taking place Thursday, March 20th from 6-9 pm at The Cambria Hotel in Detroit, this sports-themed evening will include fabulous food and drinks, celebrity guest appearances, an online silent auction, a raffle for the chance to win an autographed Barry Sanders football, a thrilling in-person live auction and more. Please visit www.bbbssoutheastmi.org for more info and to register for the auction!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
BBBS is always looking for volunteer Bigs. Currently, BBBS has over 200 youth on our waitlist. That means they’ve registered with the program and they’re just waiting to be matched with a Big – sometimes up to 2 years! Our greatest need is BIPOC men. Most of the kids on our waitlist are African-American boys whose families have indicated a preference for black male mentors. Remeber…it takes little to be BIG. Take the first step at https://bbbssoutheastmi.org/mentor/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bbbssoutheastmi.org
- Instagram: http://instagram.com//bbbssoutheastmi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbbssoutheastmi
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bbbssoutheastmi/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bbbssoutheastmi
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bbbs_sm
