History of Big Sisters

In November of 1965, Juvenile Court Judge James P. Calhoun and a group of women recognized the need for the services of a Big Sisters program and joined together to establish Big Sisters of Tampa, Inc. The agency was chartered by the State of Florida on December 20, 1965 with the following statement of purpose: “A specific and primary purpose for which this corporation is formed and intends to initially engage is to organize under professional direction a body of mature and responsible women to interest themselves individually in the welfare and improve of girls whose physical, mental, and moral development have been retarded, hindered, or endangered because of inadequate parental supervision, bad environment or other conditions, and to aid them in developing a love of God and a love of country and a usefulness to the community and to themselves.”
 
The following persons were listed as members in the charter: Mrs. Levon Johnston, Mrs. Nell Jiminez, Miss Cherie Troped, Mrs. Lillian Troped, Miss Norma Thayer, and Mrs. Beverly Spicola.
 
The first Christmas party for Little Sisters was held on December 7, 1966 in the Carriage Room of the Floridian Hotel.
 
In March of 1967, Mrs. Nell Jiminez was appointed as volunteer Executive Director to serve with Rose Washburn Fernandez. The latter was the first Big Sister to be assigned a Little Sister.
 
By the installation date of April 29, 1969, the membership had grown to twenty-one members.    The following charter officers were installed: Charter President, Mrs. Levon Johnston; Vice President, Mrs. Nell Jiminez; Second Vice President, Mrs. Lillian Troped; Third Vice President, Miss Cherie Troped; Treasurer, Miss Frances Brown. Mrs. Rose Washburn was named Executive Director on a volunteer basis. Mrs. Molly Ferrara, Mrs. Doris Thompson, Mrs. Ellie York, Mrs. Grace Calhoun, Mrs. Doris Dodney, Mrs. Annie Mendez, Mrs. Jean Johnston, Mrs. Mavis Ballans, and Mrs. Roberta Titback were the original Directors.
 
In 1974 Big Sisters of Tampa became a United Way agency and the agency’s first paid Executive Director was hired, Doreen Patterson. During this year, the annual budget was approximately $10,000. The program had 30 assigned Little Sisters, and 35 unassigned Little Sisters and 54 Big Sisters.
 
In 1975 Big Sisters of Tampa applied for and was affiliated with Big Sisters International.
 
During 1976 Big Sisters of Tampa received a grant from the Conn Memorial Foundation which allowed for the hiring of the agency’s first caseworker. In addition, Big Sisters of Tampa received provisional status from Big Sister International during 1975-1976.
 
During the latter part of 1976, the agency experienced some difficulties which resulted in the provisional status being changed to Agency-In-Formation in February, 1977. During the summer months of 1977, a group of Board of Directors resigned, as did the Executive Director and caseworker. In November 1977 a new Executive Director, Garry Yellin, and caseworker were hired. Gary Yellin later became the Executive Director of the merged agency.
 
The following individuals served as Board Presidents of Big Sisters for one year: Lavon Johnston, 1966-67; Beverly Spicola, 1967; Doris Steele, 1968; Jennie Walker, 1969; Lilah Baskerville, 1970; Marie Hayes, 1971; Patricia Paynor, 1972; Montene Farrett, 1973; Doris Reddick, 1974; Diane Esco, 1975; Florence Canup, 1976; Mary Jane Dame, 1977; Ronnie Withers, 1978; Dee Melghem, 1979; Barbara Pankau, 1980; Mitchelle Dunstan, 1981.