Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire recently honored its 2025 Mentors of the Year at an awards celebration at the Grier Pavilion at Riverside City Hall.

The Mentors of the Year were selected from the agency’s Community, High School Bigs and Workplace Mentoring programs for their impact on young people locally, according to a news release.

Riverside City Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes spoke at the April 30 event, and there was a video presentation by Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson. Cervantes spoke about how mentors helped her when she was young, crediting their support with shaping her future, according to the news release.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire’s Mentors of the Year honored at the awards celebration were Susan Hinrichs of Moreno Valley and Jonathan Rangel of Rancho Cucamonga in the Community category; Karla Louisa of Fontana’s Jurupa Hills High School and Gavin McGowan of Riverside’s Ramona High School in the High School Bigs category; and Stephanie Karnes, Norco Community College and Steve Gomez, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, in the Workplace Mentoring category.

The honorees were recognized for their roles in guiding and inspiring young people, whether through community service, peer leadership or preparing young people for college and career success.

Gavin McGowan, one of the high school Mentors of the Year, is an only child raised by a single mother, and he shared how being a mentor in the program reshaped his sense of leadership and purpose.

“Everywhere I went, I saw my Littles — in my teammates, in people facing food insecurity, in those fighting for justice,” McGowan said, according to the news release. “And I asked myself, what would I do if that were them? That question has driven me to lead, to serve, to care. That’s what Big Brothers Big Sisters gave me.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire, a nonprofit organization, has a waiting list of young people to be matched with mentors, and the organization is seeking volunteers.

The Sports Buddies program emphasizes mentorship through motion and offers fully facilitated outings, with activities including everything from workouts and yoga to basketball clinics and team-building events, according to a news release.

For more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire’s 2025 Mentors of the Year, go to iebigs.org/blog/2025-mentors-of-the-year/.

For information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire and how to volunteer, go to iebigs.org/volunteer/ and for more about Sports Buddies and how to volunteer with that program, go to iebigs.org/sports/.