Entrepreneur Jerry Henry Jr.

By CONNOR O’SHAUGHNESSY
Marketing Communications Coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters honored local entrepreneur, venture capitalist and civil servant Jerome “Jerry” Henry Jr., with the 2015 Don Wolf Award on Tuesday, May 5, at its 42nd Annual Gourmet Dinner.

Named after Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana co-founder former CEO of Do it Best Corporation, the Don Wolf Award is one of the most prestigious honors given by the agency to an individual that goes above and beyond the call of excellence in community service.

Following in the footsteps of his father, previous Don Wolf Award recipient Jerome Henry Sr., Henry has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters since its establishment in 1972. Over the past 40 years, his dedication to Big Brothers Big Sisters through immeasurable contributions, influential leadership and business expertise has helped develop the agency into one of the most successful mentoring organizations in the nation.

Today, Jerry Henry serves on the Gourmet Dinner Advisory Committee planning and executing our most successful fundraiser in our history and has signed on for another five years, joining the growth capital campaign committee. This committee is tasked with raising $6 million over the next five years to take Big Brothers Big Sisters and its vision of mentoring to the next level: to become a sustainable organization and serve 5,000 children with caring adult mentors by 2020.

The Don Wolf Award was established in 1999 and is given to an individual in recognition of his/her commitment and contribution to youth in our community. Don Wolf, former long-time CEO of Do it Best Corporation, was responsible for bringing Big Brothers Big Sisters to Northeast Indiana in 1972. Until his passing in January, Wolf was a devoted supporter and benefactor of Big Brothers Big Sisters and a board president on both local and national levels.