10/1/24 Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry thanks its founder and opens search for next CEO

It is with profound gratitude that Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry (BBBSL) announces the departure of the organization’s founding CEO, Merridith Crowe, effective Nov. 1. Crowe has served the Charleston community in this role since April 2019, supporting more than 550 "Littles," "Scholars," families and "Bigs" over six years. The BBBSL Board of Directors is conducting a national search for the position.

Under Crowe’s leadership, BBBSL solidified itself both in the Charleston community and nationally within Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as a powerful agency with unwavering commitment to ignite the potential of underserved youth in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. Annually, BBBSL receives quality and growth awards from the national office, and Crowe has served on the Justice Equity Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) national taskforce to champion meaningful relationships among Bigs and Littles. The results of BBBSL’s ongoing efforts are encouraging for the next generation of leadership, as Littles in the program are graduating from high school, avoiding risky behaviors and forming positive relationships at rates far higher than peers outside of the program. The agency also incubated its new BIG Beyond Scholar Program focused on career and college readiness. 

"On behalf of the board, we’re grateful for and commend Merridith’s service to the organization and the community over the past six years," said Peter Davidson, BBBSL Board Chair. "Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry has a strong foundation that will allow us to grow and serve families for many years to come. Every day, we see and hear stories of the relationships between Bigs and Littles and Scholars, and these stories are reminders of how important this work is. Merridith never strayed from the BBBSL mission when making organizational decisions, which is to fervently defend and empower every kid’s potential. The result is an organization that the Lowcountry should be proud of."

"Founding and achieving organizational stability has been a true honor and act of love," said Crowe. "I am always humbled by the parents and caregivers who trust us, by the Bigs who partner with us to help young people discover their greatness, by the generosity of individuals who invest in the success of our youth and by the deep dedication of our team. I look forward to celebrating the future success of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry. I invite our community to embrace its next great leader and to remain steadfast in its support of our mission throughout this transition. Our Littles, Scholars and families deserve it."

BBBSL’s continued commitment to the children and families it serves remains unwavering through the CEO transition. The organization has a goal of serving 500 youth annually by June 2026, which requires both volunteers and fundraising. Please visit bbbslowcountry.org/team500 to learn more about how you can support deserving kids in our community.

BBBSL is hosting its annual flagship fundraising event, the BIG Lowcountry Boil, Dec. 7 at Holy City Brewing in North Charleston. Businesses are invited to provide sponsorships, and the public is encouraged to buy tickets ASAP, as the event is expected to sell out. The 6th annual BIG Lowcountry Boil will feature food, drinks, activities for adults and children, music, a silent auction and a special tribute to Crowe.

Individuals interested in the BBBSL CEO search should monitor the Join Our Team web page, as the role will be posted soon.

ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry (BBBSL) works with parents, guardians and volunteers to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Using a nationally recognized, evidence‐ and outcomes‐based model, BBBSL mentoring relationships protect and foster scholastic achievement, healthy peer-to-peer/family relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors and strong self‐concept among children served.