This edition of Salina Sees You, brought to you by Drs. Cooper & Banninger, LLC Family Vision Care (1000 E. Cloud) presents:
Amanda Otto (CEO) & the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina team. Otto explains the heart and passion she and the BBBS team have when mentoring, encouraging and serving the local youth. Otto has been the CEO since 2019, and BBBS has continued to impact the local youth in various ways since she has been apart of the team.
By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
Amanda Otto has had great mentors in her life before she became the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina (BBBS).
She grew up in Salina and before her employment at BBBS, she worked in the private sector/entrepreneurial world with her father. After her time working at her family’s business, she decided to apply for the CEO position for BBBS.
Ever since she came on board, she stated it has been one of the most “rewarding parts of her life.”
“I knew what Big Brothers Big Sisters was and what the mission was. I have had mentors in my life and I understood the importance of mentorship, which has impacted me and I have seen the impact it's had on others,” she said. “Getting into the role was just one of the most rewarding things that I have done thus far. What really impacted me, was to see the program impact, meeting the families, see the kids wanting a big, see the matches and hear their stories. Still to this day, that is what drives me.”
Otto does not anyone to “complicate” the meaning of mentorship.
She stated that mentorship is about “consistency” and just simply being there for the child.
Growth of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina
“I never in a million years would have believed that I would be able to do something that I love so much for a job, which also benefits our community. I think I have one of the best jobs in Salina,” said Otto.
Before COVID-19, BBBS was serving over 300 hundred children with a staff of 3, plus Otto. Once the pandemic occurred, the organization was forced to take a step back and re-evaluate the actions that needed to take place.
The BBBS mission is “in-person mentoring” and the pandemic put a hold on their service.
However, this did not hold them back.
Otto said BBBS of America allowed electronic communication for the other local chapters to do across the country.
With this option, bigs and littles were able to stay connected virtually, despite the lockdown. On top of that, BBBS of Salina applied and used grant funding to provide services for the families who may not have the resources and tools to connect virtually.
She stated their numbers of the big to little ratio and events is getting back to what it was pre-COVID.
Moreover, programs have grown and been added since then.
Those programs include, “Beyond School Walls” and day mentoring to name a few. On top of the growth and addition of the programs, BBBS has also collaborated with a numerous amount of local nonprofits as well.
Now, BBBS has 10 people on staff, including Otto.
She said the staff loves what they do and are passionate in providing the services for the community.
“Our staff loves what they do. You don’t work at Big Brother Big Sisters if you don’t love what you do, and those are the people we recruit to be on our staff,” said Otto.
BBBS of Salina is currently looking to expand by acquiring a bigger building.
“I want to leave my community better than when I found it to be,” Otto said.
Community support
“We would not be here without the support of the people and the businesses here,” said Otto.
BBBS of Salina has received outstanding support ranging from monetary and in-kind donations, to volunteerism, board members and local participation in games and events.
As the organization grows as a whole, the need for support will grow as well.
Otto said they are in consistent communication with their supporters to fill the need of support.
“No gift is too small and even time is essential for us,” said Otto.
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SPONSORED
This edition of Salina Sees You is brought to you by Drs. Cooper & Banninger, LLC Family Vision Care (1000 E. Cloud). Call (785) 823-6391 or visit today, to make an appointment.
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Importance of mentorship
Otto had her mentor figures in her life, as she thanked her father, grandfather and people from her workplace who have taught her many valuable life lessons.
With this, she was able to understand that she cannot do anything worthwhile alone.
“You don’t get to where you are, or where you end up alone,” she said.
Otto’s desire and passion stems from the teachings and precepts her mentors gave her. She stated about being purposeful in every decision and personal interaction on a daily basis, which was a lesson she took from her mentors.
Previous littles are now giving back to society by serving as a Big in the BBBS initiative, due to how the mentorship programs changed their lives for the better.
“That is happening and it is alive and well in Salina, as well as our country through Big Brothers Big Sisters in the mentorship programs. The more kids we can impact, the more we are going to start seeing that multiply tenfold.”
Otto hopes to get rid of the stigma for people to stop thinking they are “not doing enough, or not doing anything in making a difference.”
She said this stems from over-complicating the process in the growth of a child, since we put our focus on the big things, rather than the small moments that create the bigger impact.
“When we look at the kids that are being mentored, they may not notice or realize the impact that was happening in their lives, until years down the road. These kids are going to pick a path, whether it be positive or negative. As these kids get older, they are going to realize that their mentor was one of the biggest reasons they stayed in school, did not choose that risky behavior, did not choose the path of violence and able to break generational poverty, because the mentor taught them they are worthy enough to contribute, get an education and to have a very successful career. Our kids today have the potential to do all of that. It's in every one of us. We sometimes just need that person to walk alongside us, believe in us and let us know we can do whatever we set our minds to doing, and that is what a mentorship is all about.”
Furthermore, she said it's her hope that once the littles realize the impact they received, to give back and change the lives of others in their respective communities.
She also stated she has seen how resilient the kids are in this generation, and adding that little extra push from their mentor is biggest difference maker.
“Our future generation is going to bring so much good to this world. The resiliency is in them, but what does that resiliency look like when they have someone cheering them on?"
There have been many cases and stories in the past where children's lives have been saved from suicidal ideations, after being a little through the BBBS programs.
For more information about BBBS of Salina, visit: https://www.bbbssalina.org/
Salina sees you, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Salina.
If you would like to share your personal story or know anyone who may have a story that will inspire each reader, please email Salina Post News Director, Nicolas Fierro: [email protected] or [email protected] (during regular business hours).
You can also contact: (785) 656-9856 (during regular business hours).