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Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters asks state for $500,000 to cut waiting list; CEO shares personal story
Summary
Mary Shannon, president and CEO of Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters, told the committee the 1-to‑1 mentoring program serves about 2,000 Kansas youth but has nearly 1,000 on a waiting list and requested $500,000 in state funding to sustain matches and reduce the backlog.
Mary Shannon, president and CEO of Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), asked the Committee on Social Services Budget for $500,000 in state support to preserve existing mentoring matches and reduce a waiting list of nearly 1,000 Kansas children.
Shannon described program outcomes and client demographics: the statewide BBBS affiliate manages about 2,000 active matches; 85% of youth served live at or below the poverty level, 80% come from single‑parent or guardian households, 60% live in homes affected by substance use, and more than half have a household member who has been incarcerated. She said case management is the organization’s largest ongoing cost and the group’s FY2025 operating budget is about $6 million; only roughly 11% of that comes from government sources.
Shannon shared a personal history to explain her commitment, saying mentoring changed her life and helped her break cycles of poverty and foster-care involvement. She said long-term match outcomes include higher school retention and later-life employment and civic engagement. Shannon asked the committee to consider a $500,000 appropriation to help preserve existing matches and remove children from the waiting list; she said BBBS would actively fundraise and could help match state funding with private fundraising.
Committee members in the hearing praised the program and thanked Shannon for attending; no committee action on the request was recorded in the transcript, and members asked routine follow-up questions about fundraising and match operations.
Ending The committee received the BBBS request and indicated it would consider the organization’s materials as it prepares budget recommendations for Appropriations. No vote or funding decision occurred during the meeting.
