Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire (BBBS OC/IE) held a special bike building event on Sat., Feb. 8, 2025, at the organization’s headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif. Participating as corporate partners for the event were Golden States Foods (GSF) and Taco Bell, through their respective foundations.
This hands-on community engagement experience featured volunteers, including scholars from the Taco Bell Foundation, alongside team members from Taco Bell and Golden State Foods, guiding youth from the BBBS OC/IE waitlist.
These future “Littles” received safety instructions and took home their completed new bikes, made possible by a generous donation from the GSF Foundation, which serves to improve the quality of life for children and families in need in the communities where GSF associates live and work. The program was also designed to teach goal setting and the value of hard work.
Key leaders in attendance were:
- GSF Foundation Board Chairman and CEO John Page
- Golden State Foods President and CEO Brian Dick
- Taco Bell Foundation Head of Programs & Partnerships Marchela Lavey
- BBBS OC/IE CEO Sloane Keane
“This inspiring collaboration underscores the power of mentorship, teamwork and giving back to the community,” said Sloane. “The commitment by our many corporate partners such as Golden State Foods and Taco Bell is a vital enabling force in helping our youth thrive and reach their full potential.”
BBBS OC/IE currently has 20,033 alumni, with 3,906 youth served and 101,723 volunteer hours logged in fiscal 2024. In terms of tangible results, 98% of participating youth graduate from high school on time, 87% pursue higher education and 95% show socio-economic growth.
There is currently a waiting list of more than 100 Littles eager to be matched with a mentor, and the organization is actively seeking volunteers. Learn more at https://www.ocbigs.org/volunteer and https://www.iebigs.org/volunteer.