Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA Named Harrisburg Magazine’s 2026 Charity of Choice

Harrisburg, PA (Nov. 1, 2025) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central Pennsylvania (BBBS) is honored to be named Harrisburg Magazine’s 2026 Charity of Choice. This recognition highlights BBBS’s unwavering commitment to empowering youth through one-to-one mentoring across its seven-county service area: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York.

The partnership carries special significance as 2026 marks BBBS of South-Central PA’s 45th anniversary, a milestone that celebrates nearly half a century of mentoring, community partnerships and life-changing connections.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Harrisburg Magazine for this honor,” said Amy Rote, president & CEO of BBBS of South-Central PA. “As we celebrate 45 years of igniting potential in local youth, this partnership allows us to amplify our mission and invite more community members to be part of the journey.”

As the 2026 Charity of Choice, BBBS will be featured in Harrisburg Magazine’s editorial coverage, community events and promotional initiatives throughout the year. The partnership will help raise awareness, recruit new mentors and inspire local giving to sustain and expand BBBS’s youth-focused programs.

“At Harrisburg Magazine, we believe storytelling can be a powerful force for community connection,” said Darwin Oordt, the magazine’s president & CEO. “By partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA, we hope to amplify the incredible work they do by spotlighting the mentors, the families and the young people whose lives are changed through these relationships. Our goal is to inspire more Central Pennsylvanians to get involved, to volunteer and to see firsthand how mentoring transforms futures.”

For 45 years, BBBS of South-Central PA has created and maintained high-quality mentor–mentee matches that help youth build confidence, succeed in school and pursue bright futures. The agency serves seven counties and has been recognized nationally for its program excellence, including receiving the 2024 Agency of the Year Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

BBBS offers mentoring programs that include community and school-based initiatives, Bigs in Blue partnerships with law enforcement, and workforce development programs like Beyond School Walls and the High School Bigs Leadership Program, which offers career exploration while equipping youth with workforce readiness skills. 

Each year, Harrisburg Magazine partners with a local nonprofit to elevate awareness, engagement and support within the Central Pennsylvania community through editorial features and other opportunities to help the chosen organization expand its reach and impact.

To learn more about how to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA, visit bbbsscpa.org.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA, formerly known as Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. For almost  45 years, BBBS of South-Central PA has kept its promise by expertly crafting and maintaining compatible mentoring matches between Littles (youth) and Bigs (mature volunteers) throughout the region. Our commitment includes using evidence-based best practices to achieve personalized outcomes and supporting matches throughout the mentoring relationship (one to 10 years). Contributions in all forms are vital to fulfilling the agency’s mission. BBBS of South-Central PA is a 501(c)(3) charity, registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charities, and an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

About Harrisburg Magazine
Harrisburg Magazine is dedicated to celebrating the people, businesses and organizations that make the greater Harrisburg region thrive. Each month, the publication delivers engaging, uplifting and informative stories and artistic imagery that showcase the best of Central Pennsylvania from Hershey to Mechanicsburg. Committed to serving both readers and advertisers, Harrisburg Magazine remains a trusted source of local insight and inspiration. Each year, the magazine also honors outstanding area businesses through its Simply the Best program, where readers nominate and vote for their favorites, culminating in the highly anticipated Simply the Best Gala. For more information, visit harrisburgmagazine.com.