Courtesy photo.
VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) – a youth mentoring non-profit serving Ventura County for over 50 years – has announced that Danica Selvaggio as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2023.
Selvaggio has been with BBSVC since 2014 and has served as the agency’s Vice President of Marketing and Vice President of Programs under the agency’s previous CEO of 34 years, Lynne West, before serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer for the 2022 calendar year. Selvaggio was instrumental in BBSVC obtaining the coveted Gold Standard Award for both 2021 and 2022, a designation by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America that celebrates programmatic and fiscal excellence determined by nationwide best practices.
“I have complete confidence in Danica and her ability to continue to grow our organization to serve more local youth,” says Alexander Papaefthimiou, President of BBSVC’s Board of Directors. “Danica is a bright and proven leader with extensive knowledge of the organization, the County, and its youth. Most importantly, Danica cares deeply about the organization and is devoted to helping and supporting the young people of our County. I could not be more pleased with the Board’s decision.”
BBSVC has already announced two new program changes for 2023 under Selvaggio’s leadership, including a new Enrollment Strategy that gives every youth waiting to be matched in a one-to-one mentorship the opportunity to participate in a group site program. The agency is also rolling out a Youth Mental Health First Aid initiative focused on training staff, volunteers, and parents/guardians with critical understanding and resources related to mental health, especially on digital platforms.
“The opportunity to serve Big Brothers Big Sisters in this capacity is an honor,” says Selvaggio. “My goal is to ensure that this agency continues to evolve and grow as the needs of Ventura County’s youth do, delivering professionally supported mentoring opportunities that serve each individual as well as our many diverse communities. I’m grateful to the Board of Directors, our staff, our partners and supporters, and our participants – our volunteers, families, and youth – for trusting me with the responsibility of this agency.”
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit that has been connecting Bigs and Littles in professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships in Ventura County and neighboring communities since 1970. Serving over 1000 individual youth ages 6-21 years old each year, BBSVC is committed to bringing life-changing mentoring programs and opportunities to every child in Ventura County who can benefit from having a mentor introduced in their lives.
To learn more, please visit www.bbsvc.org or call 805.484.2282.