Big Brothers Big Sisters announces Jim Lewis as new Executive Vice President, Development

DALLAS - Jan. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- Big Brothers Big Sisters is pleased to announce the appointment of James C. Lewis as Executive Vice President, Development. In this position, Mr. Lewis will oversee all fund development functions for the agency’s service area which includes all of North Texas, West Central Texas and the Greater Houston area.

“We are pleased that someone with such impressive and distinguished development experience will be joining our organization,” says Rob Roby, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “His ability to forge new partnerships and develop effective relationships with donors, along with his commitment to philanthropy, will allow Jim to immediately contribute to the success of Big Brothers Big Sisters."

Prior to joining Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mr. Lewis served as the Vice President for Development at the University of Texas at Arlington. During his six years at UT Arlington, Lewis played a leadership role in quadrupling private philanthropy, which included the two largest current cash commitments in the history of the University. He was also responsible for re-establishing the University’s Development Board as a leadership group to advance philanthropy. He has spent the last 24 years as the chief development officer at three institutions, which also includes Austin College in Sherman, Texas and Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.  He was also previously a member of the development staff at Southern Methodist University.

Lewis received an M. B. A. from Southern Methodist University and a Master’s degree in Counseling at what is now Texas A&M - Commerce.  He is a long-time member of the Council for the Advancement in Support of Education (CASE), serving as the Chair of the CASE District IV Board of Directors, and the Association of Fund Raising Professionals.

“I am honored to join the Big Brothers Big Sisters team – the values of changing lives through mentoring resonates with my own,” says Lewis. “I look forward to working with the board and leadership team to significantly increase the level of philanthropy to support life-changing programs and working to develop permanent funding to sustain this important enterprise for years to come.”

About Big Brothers Big Sisters and Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization, holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and 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 first-ever Big Brothers Big Sisters Youth Outcomes Summary, released in 2012, 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 85-year history. Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star serves more than 30,000 children, volunteers and families through 20 offices and more than 100 counties in Texas. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life – donate or volunteer at bbbstx.org (http://www.bbbstx.org/).