Dear BBBS community,
May is Military Appreciation Month—a time to honor the commitment and resilience of our service members and their families. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County, we believe in honoring these families through meaningful action.
Helping launch Operation Bigs over 20 years ago right here in San Diego, a program supporting military families, was deeply personal for me. As a Navy kid, I grew up far from extended family, and it was retired neighbors—Jack and Patti Fox—who provided me support, helping this shy girl grow in confidence.
That experience shaped my deep belief in the power of mentorship, and I remain passionately committed to seeing Big Brothers Big Sisters serve military-connected youth and continue to advocate for its growth nationally.
A Story of Impact
Meet Anthony and Jonathan, a powerful Big and Little match and our 2025 Operation Bigs “Big of the Year” nominees. Their story exemplifies the strength of connection and the trust that mentoring can build—especially for youth from military families navigating change and uncertainty.
“When my son turned 10, I enrolled him in Big Brothers Big Sisters… His Big is a Marine veteran who understood the nuances of military life. He showed up for my son in ways that I sometimes couldn’t, given the many hats I was already wearing as a working parent.”
– Kristina Varsho, military mother
Kristina and her family’s story was recently featured in an article in Business Insider. Read the full story here
It Takes a Village: Support Military Youth Through Operation Bigs.
At BBBS, we believe it truly takes a village. We are honored to be part of the support system surrounding military families.
We are proud to have supported thousands of military-connected Littles through one-to-one mentorship—and we’re just getting started.
Join us in making a lasting difference in our military community, and be the reason a military child feels supported and confident—and give parents peace of mind knowing their child has a trusted mentor.
Warmly,
Tina Rose
Chief Executive Officer
Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County
