PHILADELPHIA, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Mathis as President and Chief Executive Officer effective September 15, 2009. In the interim, Judy Vredenburgh will continue to serve as the organization's leader.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090515/PH17848)

Mathis comes to Big Brothers Big Sisters with a demonstrated commitment to children and their families. She is a former Big Sister; she created the Youth at Risk program for the American Bar Association; she serves as a director on the Board of Volunteers of America; and she is a past board leader for the Mile High Girl Scout Council.

Mathis has a long track record of service, which includes past president of the American Bar Association, a $300 million organization and as a partner and leader of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney and Carpenter, a multi-state diversified law firm with 230 practicing attorneys. Mathis is a collaborator with many external relationships and has significant experience as an organizational leader, coalition builder, fund raiser, and advocate.

Mathis has partnered with the U.S. Department's of Justice and Education, testified before many congressional committees, and worked with White House staff. She has addressed prestigious audiences worldwide and nationally including the National Conference of State Court Chief Justices, Justices of the International Criminal Court and many Universities. She has worked with all five branches of the U.S. military, and lobbied successfully on behalf of service men and women.

Mathis is currently on a one year assignment as the executive director for Central European and Eurasian Initiative Institute (CEELI), a preeminent international non profit provider of post graduate professional legal education.

Mathis is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Denver, received a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School, and has honorary degrees from five other institutions. She has been honored by many organizations, including the National Network for Youth, the U.S. Air Force, and the National Association of Women Lawyers.

Mathis will be at the organization's National Conference in Miami in June, where she is scheduled to speak Wednesday, June 17.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters helps vulnerable children beat the odds. The organization depends on donations to help recruit volunteers and reach more children. Funding is used to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety; and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build and sustain long-lasting relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters is proven to improve children's odds for succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and breaking negative cycles. Headquartered in Philadelphia and with nearly 400 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves more than a quarter million children. Learn how you can change how children grow up in America by going to BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters, BigBrothersBigSisters.org, is the largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. With nearly 400 affiliates across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam, it served 255,000 children in 2007 - more than twice the number of five years ago. Independent research shows that its model of professionally supported one-to-one relationships between young people and their Big Brothers and Big Sisters has a measurable, positive impact. Children in the program are less likely to skip school, begin using alcohol and illegal drugs, and be involved in violence. Big Brothers Big Sisters works with policymakers and community leaders across the country to expand access to mentoring for children in need. The organization is currently focusing on recruiting Big Brothers, especially African-Americans and Hispanics.

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