Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Retires

VAILS GATE – Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Nancy Kosloski has retired, after serving with the organization for the past thirty-eight years, developing mentoring services throughout Orange County. Her professional journey first began working with youth and families facing the challenges of substance abuse. Those years helped her focus on the power of prevention and drew her to youth development services.

During her leadership, she developed programs bringing our community’s youth into one-to-one mentoring relationships with: West Point Cadets, Mount Saint Mary College Students, area high school students, and local businesses employees. Nancy has worked tirelessly to secure funding to sustain and grow the program, while other Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in the Hudson Valley faced closure. She has been a leader, a mentor and an advocate for children and families.

Board President Jason Nordlund reflected on her tenure stating “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, has a legacy and tradition of powerful positive impact with youth in our area. We owe so much to our long-term Executive Director and inspirational leader. She has brought passion, care, ceaseless energy and vision to this organization, engaging a cross section of the community as mentors, leaders and donors of the organization.  She will truly be missed by our staff, board and benefactors.  We honor her for her contributions to our community and for the immeasurable lasting impact she has made in lives of Orange County children.”

Through research and experience, she believes that a caring adult in the life of a child can be the pivotal turning point for helping a youth sees the strength within themselves. Nancy’s own quote is that “when a child is mentored by a caring adult they first learn to give to themselves, then to others and then back to the community.” As an advocate for youth she has worked with the mentors to develop the youths life skills, helping them gain the knowledge and develop the skills to make informed, quality decisions for their future. Through her years of service, she walked her talk, serving as a Big Sister to several young women, who to this day remain connected now into their adulthood.

Nancy leaves a legacy and a foundation for the program to build and grow even stronger under new leadership. She looks forward to time to devote to herself and seeing more of her sons Michael Kosloski, who reside in Poughkeepsie and Dr. Matthew Kosloski who resides in Chicago. Big Brothers Big Sisters capacity will only continue to strengthen through the service of others who step up to become a mentor, serve on the board or a committee or make a commitment to add Big Brothers Big Sisters to their philanthropic annual giving. Find out how you can help by calling 845-562-5900 or visit www.mentorachild.org.