Our 2024 Ice Ball Chairs: Jason Vitanza & Philisa Giannukos
Our 2024 Ice Ball Chairs: Jason Vitanza & Philisa Giannukos
Much like the circular gem of the Ice Ball Gala, our 2024 Ice Ball Committee Chairs have come full circle with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas. From their initial involvement with our agency, to leading the charge for this year’s 20th anniversary of the agency’s largest fundraiser, Jason Vitanza and Philisa Giannukos have increasingly stepped up their commitment for kids in our community.
Jason’s introduction to the Ice Ball Gala was years ago when he was a table sponsor at the event, and he’s been supporting the program ever since. “I’ve been a part of so many Ice Balls, about 10 years’ worth,” said Jason. “A shout-out to Reva and Joe Enzminger who first invited me because that’s how I got involved. Ice Ball was the beginning of my journey with BBBS.”
Philisa (Phil) got connected with the Ice Ball event about 3 years ago. “It’s such a fun event,” said Phil. “It’s so exciting to watch people get energized about raising money for such a wonderful cause.”
Phil grew up in San Antonio and Jason in Bryan, Texas, but Austin has been their home base as each has started their own business. Jason is the CTO/Owner of Shadow IT Services, an IT Managed Services Provider in Austin. Philisa is a freelance event manager and also works as an ambassador for HelloNabr, an organization whose purpose is to build community experiences by partnering with homeowners’ associations around the Austin area. She is currently developing her brand “Phil the Magic” specializing in apparel and clothing, wearable art, and custom jackets.
Ice Ball hasn’t been their only BBBS connection, however. Jason’s company has been an Ice Ball sponsor, he and Phil have also served as Bowl for Kids Chairs, and he’s on the BBBS Executive Board of Directors. All of that is the first one-third of the circle. In 2017 however, the next portion of their BBBS adventure began – Jason became a Big Brother to Little Brother Maverick.
“At first I was traveling too much and working too much to become a Big Brother,” said Jason. “But I was at a conference in San Francisco, and I was going through some personal stuff in my life. Then this speaker, one of the best I’ve ever heard, said, ‘If you want to change your perspective on things, if you want clarity in your life, if you want peace, then donate your time.’”
“I felt like he was talking just to me,” said Jason. “I thought, I’m just going to jump in and do this.” He and Maverick have been matched for 6 years now.
“You get as much out of your match as your Little does,” said Jason. “Some days I think, ‘Do I have enough time, am I doing a good job, can I keep doing this with so much going on?’ But you can’t stop because you both gain so much out of it.”
“Slowly, Maverick is grabbing a piece of me every time we get together,” said Jason. “He is 13 years old. Every visit you see his development. I see the things we’ve worked on, like his confidence and outgoingness. I see him asking questions, deciding what we’re going to do when we get together. We’re in a groove.”
Phil is seeing the change as well. “I think their match is really sweet. The first time I met Maverick was on a boat during COVID and he didn’t really say much,” said Phil. “Now, to see them together, and to hear the way Jason talks about their interactions, you can see the growth in Maverick.”
You can also see the similarities within the match, some of which they laugh about. “Maverick and I are both the worst communicators on the phone… ever,” laughs Jason, as Phil nods in agreement. “They paired us up well. It is one of the most awkward things to hear us talk on the phone because I talk too much, and he doesn’t want to be on the phone.”
Phil adds, ”It’s all ‘nope, yep, okay.’ In person they’re much better.”
Phone conversations aside, it’s a match that has inspired Jason and Phil to complete the last portion of the circle with BBBS by taking on an even greater role with the Ice Ball Gala – that of 2024 Gala Chairs. “It is really fun to have different groups of people come in and join us at Ice Ball,” said Phil, “To see what the agency’s mission is all about, and to hear the BBBS story.”
“Being named Ice Ball Chairs, we’ve had more recognition and attention about what we’re doing with the agency from family and people connected to us,” said Phil. “We have a big support system, and we’ll have a lot of them with us at the gala.”
“Ice Ball is such a great event,” said Jason. “I’m always trying to get more people involved and to help them understand our mission. It’s such a key thing. You help a Little’s development, you help society, and then you feel better, too. It’s a win-win.”
“Kids need mentors. I needed that, too,” said Jason. “I needed my own mentor in Maverick.”
It’s not just a casual comment. Jason and Phil are working to make this year’s Ice Ball as successful as possible so that more kids in our community have the mentors they need and deserve.
