Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region Wins Back-to-Back Deucey Awards for Most Outstanding Video
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Some stories deserve to be told. Others deserve to be experienced.

That’s exactly what Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region has accomplished once again, earning the 14th Annual Deucey Award for Most Outstanding Video—their second consecutive win in one of the competition’s most competitive categories. The real recognition belongs to the people behind the story: the mentors who invest their time, the young people whose lives are forever changed, and a community that continues to show up for both.

For Big Brothers Big Sisters, storytelling has never been about producing a polished video. It’s about giving people an authentic glimpse into relationships that are changing lives every single day.
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More Than a Mentoring Program

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region has spent decades creating meaningful one-to-one mentoring relationships between caring adult volunteers and young people throughout the community. Their mission is simple: connect a child with a trusted adult, support that relationship, and watch lives change. While every match looks a little different, the goal remains the same—to provide consistency, encouragement, and someone who simply shows up.

Many mentoring relationships last for years, allowing Bigs and Littles to celebrate milestones together, navigate challenges, and build trust that extends far beyond scheduled activities. Those relationships become the foundation for confidence, resilience, and opportunity. It’s work that changes both the mentor and the child.
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Capturing the Mission on Camera

Creating an award-winning video about mentorship isn’t easy. The real impact happens over months and years—not in front of a camera. That meant telling a bigger story.

Rather than focusing on one match, this year’s video highlighted the broader community that makes mentorship possible. Schools, nonprofit partners, volunteers, families, and supporters all play a role in helping young people succeed.

The result was a story that reflected something bigger than one organization. It showed what happens when an entire community invests in its future.

As Megan shared after receiving the award: “Most Outstanding Video of the Year, two years in a row. That’s crazy. That’s awesome.”

The excitement was genuine, but so was the gratitude. Because awards are wonderful. Impact is even better.
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Relationships That Last

At the heart of every Big Brothers Big Sisters story is one simple idea: relationships matter. Mentors aren’t expected to have all the answers; they simply show up consistently. That consistency often becomes life changing.

Throughout the video, viewers hear directly from Littles who describe how mentorship has strengthened their relationships with family members, improved friendships at school, and helped them build confidence in themselves. Those aren’t statistics on a report. They’re real people describing real change.

As one reflection shared in the video explains: “To hear our Littles say they have better relationships with peers in school and family members… that’s really, really sweet.”

Those moments remind us why mentorship matters. Success isn’t measured only by grades or attendance. Sometimes it’s measured by a smile. A conversation. Or knowing there’s always someone in your corner.
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Storytelling That Builds Community

One of the reasons Big Brothers Big Sisters continues to connect with audiences is authenticity. Nothing is manufactured. The cameras simply capture what already exists.

The production team follows mentoring matches throughout community events, volunteer activities, school programs, and everyday interactions. Individual moments become part of a much larger narrative—one that reflects the organization’s mission with honesty and heart.

As Megan explained, bringing those moments together creates something powerful. “Your team does an amazing job taking all of these little sections and putting together a really beautiful five-minute snapshot of essentially our mission.”

That’s the power of nonprofit storytelling. It isn’t about creating something that wasn’t there. It’s about helping people see what’s already happening.
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A Community Effort

Behind every successful mentoring relationship stands an entire network of supporters, and each one contributes to creating opportunities for young people to thrive. This year’s video celebrates that collective effort.

Rather than focusing solely on one mentor and one child, it recognizes the village working together behind the scenes.

That’s what makes Big Brothers Big Sisters unique. Mentorship begins with two people. Its impact spreads much further.
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Looking Ahead

Winning a Deucey Award doesn’t slow the work down. It simply shines a brighter light on the mission. Big Brothers Big Sisters continues to expand opportunities for mentoring through community events, volunteer recruitment, and fundraising initiatives that help create even more life-changing matches.

Upcoming events—including their annual fundraising breakfast, golf outing, family activities, and annual 5K—offer supporters new ways to become part of the mission.

Whether someone volunteers as a Big, attends an event, becomes a donor, or simply shares the organization’s story, every contribution helps create more opportunities for local youth. Because every child deserves someone in their corner.
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Stories That Continue Long After the Credits

Awards recognize excellence. Relationships create impact. For the second year in a row, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region has been recognized for outstanding storytelling, but the true success isn’t measured by trophies.

It’s measured by the young people discovering confidence; the mentors finding purpose. the families finding support, and a community choosing to invest in its next generation.

Congratulations to Megan and the entire Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region team on another well-deserved Deucey Award! The video may have earned the recognition, but the relationships are what make it unforgettable.