Join us on Wednesday, May 13 for a meaningful lunchtime celebration of mentorship, impact, and community at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame. The event will take place from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the vibrant waterfront destination, Armature Works.

Event Details

WHEN: Wednesday, May 13
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Networking
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM: Luncheon Program

WHERE: Armature Works
DRESS CODE: Business Formal

Please plan to arrive on time to ensure a smooth check-in, time to network, and an on-time start to the program.

A Midday Gathering with Purpose

This luncheon is designed to fit into your workday while still offering an inspiring and impactful experience. Guests can expect a welcoming check-in beginning at 11:00 AM, followed by dedicated networking time with fellow attendees, community partners, and supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. The energy of the room builds as we transition into the formal program at noon, creating a natural flow from connection to celebration.

The program will open with a special performance of the National Anthem by Sonya Bryson, the anthem singer for the Tampa Bay Lightning, setting the tone for an inspiring afternoon of recognition and storytelling.

Engaging Emcees Leading the Program

This year’s program will be led by two dynamic emcees who bring strong community ties and meaningful perspective to the stage. Our first emcee is Casey Phillips, now in her 12th season as Team Reporter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She brings extensive experience in broadcasting across television, radio, podcasts, and live events, along with a deep connection to the Tampa Bay community and a strong commitment to local service.

She will be joined by Dr. Leon Battle, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at One More Child. Dr. Battle is a passionate advocate for children and families, known for building partnerships across businesses, churches, and community organizations to expand impact and opportunity. His personal and professional journey brings powerful perspective to this celebration, and together the emcees will guide a program focused on recognition, storytelling, and impact.

Honoring This Year’s Hall of Fame Inductees

We are proud to recognize four individuals whose commitment to mentoring and youth empowerment has made a lasting difference: Ross Anderson, Susan Harmeling, Bill Nipper, and Ida Walker. Each honoree represents the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters in action, showing up consistently and helping shape brighter futures for young people across our community.

Learn more about the honorees here.

Stories of Impact and Inspiration

Throughout the luncheon, guests will hear powerful stories that highlight the real-life impact of mentorship. These moments bring to life how consistent support from caring adults can change the trajectory of a young person’s future, while also celebrating the volunteers and advocates who make that impact possible. It is both a recognition and a reminder of what is possible when our community comes together in support of youth.

Join Us

Be part of this inspiring midday celebration of mentorship and impact.
Register For The 2026 Hall of Fame!

This past Saturday, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay hosted its annual Boards for Bros event at Skatepark Tampa, bringing together more than 20 Big and Little matches for a day filled with energy, encouragement, and new experiences.

From the moment they arrived, Littles were welcomed by a team of volunteers who helped create an environment that felt both exciting and supportive. That excitement quickly grew when each Little received a brand-new skateboard, helmet, and pair of sneakers. For many, it was their first time owning equipment like this, and the surprise made the day even more meaningful.

With guidance from experienced teen skateboarders, Littles spent the day learning the basics, from finding their balance to building the confidence to try beginner tricks. The skatepark was filled with laughter, encouragement, and moments of determination as kids pushed themselves outside their comfort zones.

On the sidelines, Bigs played an equally important role, cheering on every attempt, celebrating progress, and reminding their Littles that it was okay to fall and try again. It was a powerful example of what mentorship looks like in real time.

One moment captured the heart of the day. A young Little arrived feeling shy and unsure, overwhelmed by the new environment. But with steady encouragement from volunteers and his Big, something began to shift. By the end of the event, he was proudly holding his new skateboard, wearing his helmet with confidence, and smiling in a way that said everything. What started as uncertainty turned into confidence in just a few short hours.

More Than Just a Day at the Skatepark

Boards for Bros has become a meaningful tradition for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, and it is easy to see why. Events like this go beyond fun. They create opportunities for Littles to try something new, build confidence, and strengthen their relationships with their Bigs.

They also reflect the power of community. Volunteers, partners, and supporters showed up in a big way, making sure every child felt seen, supported, and celebrated.

A special thank you to Boards for Bros, Super Skate Posse, Skatepark Tampa, and everyone who helped bring this day to life. Because of your support, our Littles walked away with more than just new gear. They left with new skills, stronger connections, and confidence they can carry forward.

Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay proudly recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and dedication to mentorship have created a lasting impact across our community. At our 2026 Hall of Fame Celebration on May 13, we will honor four remarkable leaders whose work embodies the power of guidance, generosity, and commitment to helping others thrive.

This year’s honorees represent decades of service across industries including community leadership, athletics, philanthropy, and public service. Through their actions, they demonstrate what it means to invest in others and build stronger communities. Please join us in celebrating our 2026 Hall of Fame honorees:

• Ross Anderson
• Susan Harmeling
• Bill Nipper
• Ida Walker

Together, their stories remind us that mentorship can take many forms, but the impact always lasts a lifetime.

Honoring Ross Anderson

For Ross Anderson, mentorship is more than a role, it is a calling that has shaped both his life and the lives of countless young people across Tampa Bay. An educator with Hillsborough County Public Schools for more than 20 years, Ross has dedicated his career to guiding and supporting students, always looking for ways to create opportunity and connection. That commitment extends deeply into his involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters, where he has served as a three-time Big Brother, consistently showing up for youth and modeling what it means to be a steady, positive presence.

Recognizing the need for mentorship among young men in local schools, Ross founded Men of Vision, Inc. in 2006 at Sligh Middle School. Built on the belief that “Action & Vision can change the World,” the organization has mentored more than 2,000 young men over the past 18 years through tutoring, leadership development, and service. Known affectionately as “POPS,” Ross has become a trusted mentor, leader, and father figure to many.

Beyond his direct mentorship, Ross continues to champion education at a broader level through his work with the superintendent’s office, helping lead graduation initiatives and ensuring more students reach this critical milestone. His involvement as a member of a Divine Nine fraternity further reflects his lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and uplifting his community.

Through Big Brothers Big Sisters and beyond, Ross Anderson has built a legacy defined by consistency, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every young person he serves.

Honoring Susan Harmeling

Few individuals have shaped the running community in Tampa Bay quite like Susan Harmeling. As Race Director of the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic, Susan has spent more than 30 years guiding one of the region’s most beloved athletic traditions. What began as a small local race has grown into one of the largest running events in the region, welcoming thousands of participants each year and creating a lasting impact far beyond race day.

Susan’s leadership extends well beyond organizing events. She has cultivated a vibrant, inclusive running community that encourages people of all ages and abilities to participate. Through youth running programs, volunteer engagement, and a deep commitment to community connection, she has built an experience that inspires wellness, perseverance, and camaraderie.

That same spirit of community has made a meaningful difference for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Through a more than decade-long partnership with the Gasparilla Distance Classic, Susan has helped raise nearly $400,000 to support life-changing mentoring relationships. While not a Big herself, Susan has been a true champion of the mission, using her platform to invest in the success and future of local youth.

As she prepares for her well-earned retirement, Susan’s legacy is one of leadership, generosity, and lasting community impact. Her passion and vision have strengthened Tampa Bay in countless ways, and her support of Big Brothers Big Sisters will continue to be felt for years to come.

Honoring Bill Nipper

For Bill Nipper, mentorship is deeply personal. Bill’s journey with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay began in 2001 when he joined the organization’s Board of Directors. His leadership and dedication quickly grew, serving as Board Chair and helping guide the organization’s impact across the region.

Not long after, Bill and his wife Mary took their commitment a step further by becoming a Big Couple, mentoring two Littles, Edward and Kiara. Through their mentorship, they formed a genuine family bond. Whether it was teaching Edward how to grill with confidence or helping Kiara develop sewing skills and other life lessons, Bill and Mary nurtured independence, creativity, and self-belief in both of their Littles.

Beyond his direct mentorship, Bill’s impact spans decades. During his career at JPMorgan Chase, a corporate partner of Big Brothers Big Sisters for more than 30 years, he championed the organization’s mission from both a professional and personal perspective. As an alumni Big Brother, past Board Chair, dedicated donor, and match activity host at events like the Gasparilla Children’s Parade, Bill has consistently found meaningful ways to show up for the organization and the youth it serves.

Alongside Mary, who is also an alum Big, Bill’s legacy is one of enduring commitment, leadership, and generosity. His story reflects the many ways one person can make a lasting difference, not just through a single role, but through a lifetime of service to others.

Honoring Ida Walker

Service has been the foundation of Ida Walker’s extraordinary career. As Senior Executive Aide for the Tampa Police Department, Ida has dedicated more than four decades to strengthening her community through leadership, advocacy, and mentorship. Her work has touched countless lives, both within law enforcement and throughout the broader Tampa Bay community.

Ida’s connection to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay reflects that same lifelong commitment to service. As an alum Big, she has personally stepped into the role of mentor, offering guidance and support to a young person who needed it most. She also played an instrumental role in launching the Chief’s Challenge for Bowl for Kids’ Sake more than 20 years ago, helping build a lasting partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters and the law enforcement community.

Beyond her work with BBBS, Ida has supported numerous youth initiatives and civic efforts, including her involvement in the Fearless Four Historical Monument and as co-chair of Tampa’s Soulwalk, both of which celebrate the city’s rich history and culture.

Throughout her 43-year career, Ida has received many honors, including the Josephine Howard Stafford Memorial Award, Employee of the Year, and the Unsung Hero Award. Yet those who know her best understand that her greatest impact lies in the way she consistently uplifts others and brings people together.

Through her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication, Ida Walker represents the very best of community partnership and service.

Join Us in Celebrating

The Hall of Fame Celebration is an opportunity for our community to come together in recognition of individuals who have dedicated their time, talent, and leadership to making a difference.

On May 13, 2026, we invite supporters, partners, and friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay to join us as we celebrate these extraordinary honorees and the lasting impact of mentorship in our region.

Their stories remind us that when one person chooses to mentor, encourage, and lead, the ripple effect can transform countless lives.

Sign up For The 2026 Hall of Fame!

Honoring Women who Move Communities Forward: Celebrating Women’s History Month at BBBSTB

 Women’s History Month is a celebration of women whose courage and leadership have transformed communities.  At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, we honor that legacy by lifting up women who continue to shape the future.  Women like Chloe Evans Coney, a trailblazer whose life’s work mirrors the very heart of mentorship.

Chloe Coney has spent decades fighting for opportunity in East Tampa advocating for good jobs, affordable housing, safer neighborhoods, and pathways for families to thrive.  As the founder of the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa (CDC), she’s helped lead more than 890 development projects, trained over 13,000 residents for workforce success and helped more than 3,500 youth graduate from high school.  She revitalized 29th Street, built youth and family centers, championed homeownership for single mothers, and became known across Tampa as a connector, a change agent, and the beloved “hat lady” whose style matches her spirit.

Her leadership journey also intersects deeply with the legacy of Judge George Edgecomb, Hillsborough County’s first African American county court judge.  Early in her career, Chloe served under Judge Edgecomb as a court service supervisor an experience that shaped her commitment to justice, equity, and community empowerment.  Today, that same spirit lives on through the Edgecomb Mentoring Circle, named in his honor and dedicated to uplifting youth in East Tampa and South St. Petersburg.

Chloe Coney’s life reminds us that communities change when people show up for one another.  Her work created opportunity where others saw obstacles.  Her leadership opened doors for families who simply needed someone to believe in them.

Right now, in East Tampa, 75 young people are waiting for that same belief.  They are waiting for mentors who will listen, guide, and help them see their own potential, just as Chloe Coney did for generations.  This Women’s History Month, we honor Chloe Coney not only by celebrating her legacy, but by continuing it.

Become a mentor and support the Edgecomb Mentoring Circle.  Click the link below for more info.

Be A Big – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay

Help us match every child in East Tampa with the support they deserve.  The next great community leader is already here; she just needs someone like you to walk beside her!

This Women’s History Month, we proudly honor Celeste Roberts a visionary leader, a lifelong mentor, and a champion for the young people and families of East Tampa.  As a former Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay volunteer Big Sister, she built a bond so strong that she still keeps in touch with her Little Sister Ciera today.  That commitment to showing up, staying connected, and believing in a young person’s future continues to shape everything she does.

As Co-Founder and CEO of the Skills Center, she has transformed sports into a pathway for academic success, life skills, and generational change.  Her leadership has driven major milestones, including a multi-million-dollar development project and the organizations 2021 expansion into a permanent home.  Recognized as a 2024 Businesswoman of the Year and Onyx Magazine’s 2025 Women on the Move, Celeste continues to uplift youth, families, and communities with the same heart she brought to her years as a Big Sister.  A proud Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc sister, her legacy is rooted in service, equity, and mentorship. 

Celeste’s journey began when she shifted from a business career to youth development after launching a college prep program.  She discovered her calling in serving underserved, predominantly minority youth, a mission that mirrors the heart of our Edgecomb Mentoring Circle Initiative, which focuses on East Tampa’s young people and families.

In Her Own Words:

“When you invest in a young person, you’re not just changing their life, you’re changing the trajectory of a family, a neighborhood, and a community.  That’s why I do this work.”  ~Celeste Roberts~

Celeste’s love for East Tampa is woven into every program she builds and every young person she lifts up.  Her work embodies the spirit of Women’s History Month.  Women who create pathways, open doors, and build futures.  Her leadership reminds us that mentorship is not a moment; it’s a legacy.

As we honor Celeste Roberts, we also honor the countless women who mentor, advocate, and lead with purpose.  In East Tampa alone, 75 young people are waiting for a mentor who will believe in them the way Celeste believes in her community.

This month, we celebrate her story and we invite others to follow her example. 

Become a mentor. Change a life. Strengthen a community. 

Click the link below for more info: 

Be A Big – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay

Throughout Women’s History Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay is celebrating women whose leadership, service, and dedication have strengthened our community and shaped the lives of young people across Tampa Bay.

Few individuals embody that impact more than Doretha Edgecomb.

A pillar of strength, education, mentorship, and community in East Tampa, Mrs. Edgecomb has spent decades advocating for children and families. As an educator, Hillsborough County School Board member, community leader, wife, and mother, she has dedicated her life to ensuring that every child has access to opportunity, encouragement, and support.

Her work has left a lasting imprint across our region, inspiring generations of young people and community leaders. That legacy lives on through the Edgecomb Mentoring Circle, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay initiative focused on expanding mentorship opportunities for youth in East Tampa. The program continues the work Mrs. Edgecomb championed by empowering young people, strengthening community connections, and ensuring every child knows they matter.

Mrs. Edgecomb is also a proud and longtime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., carrying forward the sorority’s tradition of sisterhood, scholarship, and service in everything she does. Her life’s work is a powerful reminder that mentorship can change the trajectory of a child’s future.

As Mrs. Edgecomb has said, “Children rise when someone believes in them, and every one of us has the power to be that someone.”

Today, 75 children in East Tampa are waiting for a mentor. While that number has decreased from 80, it is still far too many young people waiting for someone to show up for them. You can help continue the legacy of leaders like Doretha Edgecomb by becoming a volunteer mentor. Together, let’s invest in the next generation and ensure every child has someone in their corner.

Become a Big today!