Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to Relocate Headquarters to Tampa

January 7, 2015

TAMPA, Fla. / Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring organization, today announced that it will relocate its national headquarters from Dallas to Tampa. Pam Iorio, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, shared details of the organization’s future plans at a press conference in Tampa. Up to 20 new headquarter jobs will be created by the end of 2015 as a result of the move.
 
“By relocating to Tampa, the national headquarters will undoubtedly grow and prosper in our positive business and philanthropic climate,” said Pam Iorio, President and CEO. “This is our new and permanent home that will reinvigorate our national organization for decades to come.”
 
Iorio, who served as Mayor of the City of Tampa from 2003 – 2011, recently extended her commitment to serve as President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America through 2019.  She is expected to use her deep local ties with the community to maximize support for the organization.
 
“I welcome Big Brothers Big Sisters to their new home in the City of Tampa. Their work is inspiring, and its impact is felt worldwide,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “I am delighted that former Mayor Pam Iorio is bringing this organization and her leadership back to her hometown.”
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America joins other national nonprofits such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Shriners International, and the Lion’s Eye Institute for Transplant and Research that have chosen Tampa as their headquarter operations home.
 
Tampa’s attractiveness as a national headquarter location for nonprofits includes easy access to top-ranked Tampa International Airport, excellent community support, and the availability of a diverse, educated and skilled workforce that includes Millennials as well as Baby Boomers looking for encore careers in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors.
 
“For the past 50 years, Big Brothers and Big Sisters volunteers have been transforming the lives of thousands of “Littles” and providing invaluable support for families throughout Hillsborough County,” said the Honorable Sandy Murman, Chair of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “We are proud to welcome Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to our community, and thank former Mayor Pam Iorio and her organization for making a difference in the lives of youth here and across the country every day.”
 
The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation helped Iorio and her team to build a business case for the relocation, providing research, business and administrative assistance, and community support that included the donation of 6,900 square feet of office space in the Westshore business district.
 
“This decision positions Tampa as the epicenter of a national organization with a strong brand-name and rich history,” said Dr. Ronald Vaughn, Chairman of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. “Influential board members, donors and affiliate organizations will convene in Tampa from around the globe to reinvigorate Big Brothers Big Sisters and chart its future. This announcement underscores the desirability of Hillsborough County as a national headquarter location for corporations and nonprofit organizations and we thank former Mayor Pam Iorio for her leadership in bringing this deal home.”
 
For 110 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has impacted the lives of children by carefully pairing screened adult volunteers (“Bigs”) with children (“Littles”) in safe, one-to-one long-term mentoring matches.  The organization provides mentors, mentees and parents ongoing professional support and guidance.  Studies have shown that children enrolled in the program are more engaged in school, less likely to use drugs or alcohol, and have greater confidence and improved relationships with their peers, parents, and teachers.
 
 
About Big Brothers Big Sisters:
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes such as educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. Partnering with parents/guardians, schools, corporations and others in the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully pairs children (“Littles”) with screened volunteer mentors (“Bigs”) and monitors and supports these one-to-one mentoring matches throughout their course. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Survey substantiates that its mentoring programs have proven, positive academic, socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes for youth, areas linked to high school graduation, avoidance of juvenile delinquency and college or job readiness.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity, often those of single or low-income households or families where a parent is incarcerated or serving in the military, with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization’s 110 year history. With nearly 340 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves approximately 200,000 children, their families and 200,000 volunteer mentors. Learn more at www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org.
 
About the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation:
The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation is the lead economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high wage jobs and capital investment within targeted industry sectors.  Working with C-level executives, site selection consultants, commercial real estate professionals, and other influential decision makers, the EDC provides customized, confidential relocation services to domestic and international companies interested in growing within Hillsborough County. Locally, the EDC helps existing businesses access the tools and resources they need to succeed, now and in the future.