Halfacre Construction Completes New Legacy Space for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast

November 13, 2024 | Sarasota

 Halfacre Construction Company, a Lakewood Ranch-based commercial construction company, recently completed construction on an approximate 9,000-square-foot new building for Big Brother Big Sisters of the Sun Coast (BBBSSC), a nonprofit with a mission to help youth thrive by providing transformational, one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring adult mentors.

Construction on the complete interior new build located at 5731 Rosin Way included spaces tailored for staff with workstations for meetings and planning, a kitchen, various well-thought-out areas for enjoying time together, a mentor center with state-of-the-art technology, a family lounge, a board room, conference room, huddle rooms and two entrances that can be separated for public events.

BBBSSC leadership envisions this as a legacy project as its long-time CEO Joy Mahler hands over the reins to incoming CEO Kamala Martinez, who officially started on September 30. Mahler has served the organization for 41 years and says that the organization will always hold a special place in her heart.

Recently, BBBSSC hosted its first two public events in the new space: a trunk or treat for Bigs and Littles and a retirement celebration for Mahler. 

“We are so proud of this exceptional new building and know that it will be a warm and welcoming place for our volunteers and staff for many years into the future,” said Mahler. “Jack Cox, Halfacre’s president and a former Big Brother himself, truly understood our mission, and our new building reflects that. The construction company is such a well-regarded and respected organization in our community, and they were extremely mindful of our goals, our nonprofit status and the vision of our organization. They made the building shell into a warm and welcoming home we cherish.”

An official ribbon-cutting and public open house is planned for January 2025. 

“Mentoring has a profound impact on a young person’s life,” said Martinez. “Our Bigs bring valuable connections, both professionally and personally, to support our Littles — providing them with educational insights and potential career pathways.”

There are currently 1,700 Big/Little matches, and the organization is always looking for more. For more information, visit bbbssun.org.