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Igniter of Big Futures, Defender of Potential and Employee of the Year were also recognized
In celebration of National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Broward County hosted the fourth annual The Big Thank You Breakfast presented by Bank of America on January 21 at the Miramar Cultural Center.
At the breakfast, 2026 Big Brother of the Year Alexander Salow, Big Sister of the Year Selina Hightower, High School Big Brother of the Year Josiah Ferguson, High School Big Sister of the Year Juliana Pineda, Igniters of Big Futures Broward County State Attorney’s Office and Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor, Defender of Potential Michelle McNab-Hemans and Employee of the Year Monica Venegas were presented with awards.
Retired Hollywood Police Lieutenant Selina Hightower became involved with BBBS of Broward County in 2019 when she joined the Bigs in Blue program and was matched with her first Little, Hanniyah. In January 2023, she was matched with her second Little, Maya. Hightower also volunteers at BBBS events including the Swing for Kids’ Sake Golf Tournament and joined Women on the Verge, a group dedicated to raising scholarship funds for Broward County youth and currently serves as Co-Chair and is a Crown Member.
“We’ve been able to be there for one another. Maya shows so much strength and resilience,” said Hightower, a Pembroke Pines resident, who recently helped her Little cope with the grief associated with losing her father. “She brings me so much love and joy. Just as much as you pour into your Little, your mentee, they’re pouring into you.”
For the last five years, Alexander Salow has been matched with Tyren, his now 13-year-old Little. Beyond providing mentorship and teaching Tyren skills such as swimming, Salow is a member of the Big Impact Squad. The Hollywood, Florida resident shares his story to inspire others and promote the mission of BBBS throughout his community and workplace to create a ripple effect of mentorship.
“I love Big Brothers Big Sisters because it challenges me. How do I help create a better community and how do I make a positive impact on Tyren’s life? I want to share the things I love with Tyren,” Salow said. “We have so much opportunity as community members to give back and to teach people about the things we love. It’s actually really fun when we do it, so I think everybody should give their time.”
During the ceremony, videos were shown to showcase the special bond between the honorees and their Littles. Videos may be watched on BBBS of Broward County’s YouTube page. To read each Big’s bio and learn more about their involvement with the organization, go to bbbsbroward.org.
The Power of Mentorship Keynote Speaker Dr. Sherika Newman shared how she personally benefitted as a former Little at BBBS of Broward County. Now an accomplished medical doctor in Atlanta, she has her Big Beth to thank for providing her with three decades of mentorship that helped her navigate teen pregnancy, raise a son as a single mom and pursue an education that led to flourishing career.
Dr. Newman is a distinguished graduate of Florida A&M University and a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with added qualifications in Hospice and Palliative Medicine through fellowship training. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. With over a decade of experience in Palliative Medicine, Dr. Newman has achieved national recognition and serves as a faculty member with the Center to Advance Palliative Care. She founded Doctor in the Family to partner with patients and their families to help navigate the complexities of health care. Her mission is to provide everyone with access to a trusted doctor in the family, ready to assist with medical questions and guidance.
“Although we can only name a select few Bigs of the Year and special honorees each year, The Big Thank You Breakfast is our way of showing gratitude to all the Bigs who choose to show up for their Littles day in and day out and use their spare time to mentor our youth,” said Malena Mendez, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County.
The Big Thank You Breakfast presented by Bank of America was also sponsored by Ana G. Méndez University, JM Family Enterprises, Amazon, Memorial Healthcare System and the City of Miramar. Miramar City Mayor Wayne M. Messam also attended the breakfast and gave remarks.
For anyone who feels inspired by these stories and compelled to become a Big, please click here to fill out an application form. There are plenty of youth in Broward County who BBBS is seeking to match with mentors. BBBS is determined to triple the number of Littles they serve each school year with their Path to 3,000 initiative.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County
For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County has offered unprecedented access to resources to empower youth to reach their full potential through meaningful mentoring relationships. These mentoring relationships build self-confidence and emotional well-being, encourage young people to stay on a path to graduation and higher education, and help them establish a plan for a successful future. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County is to ignite the power and promise of youth. For more information, visit bbbsbroward.org.
