Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut Honors New Britain Mentor and Parent
Community Announcement by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut (BBBSCT) honored two New Britain residents during its annual Big Night celebration this Saturday, recognizing Big Sister Alex Steel as the 2026 Big of the Year and Jessica Mercado as the 2026 Parent Partner of the Year. Both were celebrated for their extraordinary dedication to empowering local youth through mentorship and family partnership.
Big Sister Alex Steel has been a mentor for over five years, building a powerful and lasting relationship with her Little Sister, Destiny, whom she was matched with through BBBSCT’s Community-Based Program in 2021. Through shared experiences, from coaching her soccer team to teaching life skills like skiing, driving, and building confidence in everyday moments, Alex has created a bond rooted in trust, encouragement, and consistency.
At the event, Alex was joined by her family, including her father, Chris Steel, who is currently battling cancer. In an emotional moment, she dedicated her recognition to him, sharing that the strength and resilience he instilled in her are what shaped the mentor she is today and what she now passes on to Destiny.
“The support you gave me during the darkest moments is what I now try to pass forward to Destiny,” said Steel. “Most importantly, it’s about teaching her how to keep going, even when it feels like life is falling apart.”
With Alex’s guidance and consistent support, Destiny has grown into a confident and compassionate young leader, currently an honor student who leads with empathy and makes others feel seen. Destiny was also recently named Student of the Month at her school.
Jessica Mercado, a mother of four daughters in New Britain, was recognized as Parent Partner of the Year for her unwavering commitment to her daughter Ellie’s success in Big Brothers Big Sisters’ program. Since enrolling Ellie in 2022, Jessica has played an essential role in nurturing the relationship between Ellie and her mentor, Melissa Soto.
When needed, she has stepped in to make sure Ellie could continue participating in program activities, reinforcing the importance of consistency and connection.
“This experience has shown her that healthy relationships outside of family can be just as meaningful and important,” said Mercado. “I have also seen firsthand what it truly takes to be a mentor and how powerful that role can be in a child’s life. Our experience has been unforgettable.”
BBBSCT’s Community-Based Program matches youth with caring adult mentors to build one-to-one relationships that foster confidence, expand opportunities, and support long-term success. BBBSCT President & CEO Andy Fleischmann said, “Alex Steel is an extraordinary Big Sister, Jessica Mercado is an amazing parent, and we’re proud to celebrate them as well as the hundreds of other mentors and parents who give so much time, care, and attention to our great kids. That’s where our program’s impact comes from.”
Big Night brings together mentors, youth, families, caregivers, and community partners from across Connecticut to honor the transformative power of mentoring.
The event was emceed by former Channel 3 Eyewitness News anchor Alleah Red and was sponsored by The Cigna Group as the Champion Sponsor, Hartford HealthCare as the Empowerment Sponsor, Flanagan Agency for Farmers Insurance as the Mentorship Sponsor, and Alforboarding Dog BnB and Frankie’s Family Restaurant as the Community Sponsors.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut is looking for caring adults interested in becoming mentors.
To learn more about how to become a Big Brother or Sister, visit https://ctbigs.org/be-a-big-new-2/. To donate, visit https://www.classy.org/give/399292/#!/donation/checkout
