NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City (BBBS of NYC), the nation’s first and New York’s largest youth mentoring organization, today announced it has elected trustee Marva Smalls as Board President.
“I am thrilled to announce that Marva has been elected president of the Board of Trustees of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City,” said Hector Batista, CEO of BBBS of NYC. “During her many years of dedicated service as a trustee and member of the Executive Committee, most recently as Development Committee Chair where she helped us increase ROI on our eight special events, Marva has helped expand our reach and has been instrumental in the success of major initiatives and top notch events, including our annual Race for the Kids – part of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play. Through her extraordinary professional accomplishments and commitment to community service, Marva is a true role model for the young people in our programs, and I know she will help take this organization to new heights.”
Marva serves as executive vice president of Public Affairs, chief of staff for Nickelodeon, and executive vice president of Global Inclusion Strategy for Viacom. She works with the leadership of all Viacom brands to champion multiculturalism, inclusiveness and diversity across the company worldwide. Under Marva’s leadership, Viacom has established employee affinity groups, senior level executive councils advising on diversity, and a diversity and inclusion website.
As chief of staff, Marva oversees all pro-social and corporate responsibility initiatives for Nickelodeon Networks Group and its relationships with advocates, government officials, educators, non-profit organizations and trade associations. She coordinated Nickelodeon’s Let’s Just Play – an award-winning multi-media campaign and grassroots effort to encourage healthy lifestyles – with The William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association to help reduce childhood obesity. Marva also spearheaded the original The Big Help campaign, which empowered 40 million kids to pledge 380 million hours of volunteer service, and was honored with George C. Peabody and Golden CableAce awards.
Widely recognized as a force for positive social change, Marva was honored with the NAMIC’s prestigious L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Award, The National Action Network’s Triumph Award and T. Howard Foundation’s Champion of Diversity Award.
“I am honored to have been elected by such a remarkable board of talented individuals, whom I’ve worked with for many years,” said Marva. “There are countless young people across the city who are in need of positive role models, and I’m committed to helping Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City continue to communicate its message and fulfill its mission of enriching the lives of at-risk youth.”
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City
Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC (BBBS of NYC), the nation’s oldest and NYC’s largest youth mentoring organization, has served the changing needs of New York City’s most at-risk youth since 1904. The volunteer- and donor-based organization offers a variety of specialized mentoring programs to help children facing more complex challenges – including immigrant youth, children of incarcerated parents and those in foster care – as well as the Workplace Mentoring Program, which helps businesses throughout New York City positively impact the lives of young people and build a foundation for professional success. Additionally, since 1992 BBBS of NYC has worked through its Center for Training and Professional Development to equip non-profit professionals throughout New York City to develop and enhance their own mentor-based programs and organizations.
Through the support of individuals, foundations and corporations, this not-for-profit agency has been able to change the lives of the city’s most disadvantaged children, matching them with caring adult role models – dependable friends who can help to expand their horizons, realize their potential and enrich their futures. To learn more, become a mentor and/or offer support, please visit www.bigsnyc.org.
About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in 180 countries. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Spike, BET, CMT, TV Land, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., Channel 5 (UK), Logo, Nicktoons, TeenNick and Paramount Channel, reach a cumulative 3.4 billion television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.
For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.
