Trina Hoy has been the community development director of Kosciusko County’s Big Brothers Big Sisters since Dec. 2013. She oversees 154 matches in the county. Currently, over 50 children are seeking a mentor with BBBS. Over 70 percent are boys seeking adult male mentors. “We especially need Big Brothers,” said Hoy. “That number will only increase once school begins.” (Photo provided)

Trina Hoy has been the community development director of Kosciusko County’s Big Brothers Big Sisters since Dec. 2013, but her history with BBBS begins far earlier than that. She has been a Big Sister for the last nine years.

“When my granddaughter lived in Warsaw, I would occasionally have lunch with her at school. When she moved away, I really missed that,” said Hoy, “so I signed up to be a Lunch Buddy through BBBS with a girl, Ariel, who went to the same school.”

Hoy learned about the Lunch Buddy program, where a mentor (Big) has a weekly lunch with a student (Little), at a Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club presentation. She has been a member of that group since 2006. The Optimist Club is a big supporter of BBBS and donates upwards of $20,000 per year to community organizations that support children, said Hoy.

As the community development director of BBBS, Hoy is in charge of public relations, recruiting new mentors and raising funds.

“It costs a lot of money to support a match. There is a once a month follow-up, mileage and a background check to consider,” said Hoy. “Raising funds and putting on fundraising events are the most challenging part of the job.”

Prior to being employed at BBBS, Hoy was the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce president for nine years. She decided to switch jobs because she loved the BBBS’ mission.

“I’ve heard so many stories of kids who are in environments that are not good. They may be in poverty, one or both parents may be incarcerated,” said Hoy. “Over and over, I hear how thankful they are they had a mentor through BBBS to show them fun experiences and show them someone cared.”

Hoy oversees 154 matches in the county. Currently, over 50 children are seeking a mentor with BBBS. Over 70 percent are boys seeking adult male mentors.

“We especially need Big Brothers,” said Hoy. “That number will only increase once school begins.”

In addition to her position at BBBS and her involvement with the Optomist Club, Hoy is also on the boards for KLA, Classic Arts program and OrthoWorx’s Diversity Council. She has been married to husband, Roger Aguilar, for four years and has two grown children and three grandchilden. In her spare time, she enjoys photography and using Photoshop.

“I’ve been in Kosciusko County since I was 5 years old and have never thought about leaving,” said Hoy, who graduated from Warsaw Community High School and from Taylor University with an art education degree. “This is my town.”

If you would like to get involved in BBBS as a mentor for a child in the community, contact Hoy at 888-456-1600 ext. 2259, 574-551-6386 or [email protected].