Melissa Beck, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire, was honored at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Orange County awards gala as the 2018 Social Entrepreneur.
The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in areas such as financial performance, innovation and commitment to their businesses and communities. Over the past five years, Melissa has changed the way the social impact industry is perceived and run, transforming the Orange County office into one of the largest and most effective Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in the country.
This special recognition as Social Entrepreneur was presented by EY Orange County Managing Partner Kim Letch.
“We are truly privileged to be honoring an exceptional social entrepreneur whose great work has made a positive impact on over 3,500 children in Orange County and the Inland Empire,” Kim said during the Social Entrepreneur presentation on June 22. “She is a tireless advocate for children facing adversity. … My friend is a visionary, courageous risk-taker and a fierce leader who’s breaking every possible mold for the not-for-profit space.”
As CEO, Melissa has continuously applied her financial prowess for the betterment of the agency.
In 2015, she helped close a deal to purchase a 52,500-square-foot-building in Santa Ana to accommodate a growing staff. Last year, she secured the largest gift in agency history last year with a grant deed to a home valued at $8.5 million, a revenue stream that will provide a sense of stability for the future.
Her innovative approach has helped more than double revenue and allowed Orange County to become one of only five agencies to show consistent growth on a yearly basis.
On a programmatic level, Melissa has overseen the launch of a workplace mentoring program and the expansion of the Destination Future Initiative. She also made a public commitment toward ensuring every graduate of Big Brothers Big Sisters become a contributing member of society with a living wage by age 25.
Melissa remains actively engaged in the development of new and improved ways to serve more children in need and further enhance the agency’s presence in the local community.
