Our 2024 Ice VII Awardees: Christine and Blake Absher

A heart for and a commitment to youth in the community. That’s what led Christine and Blake Absher to Big Brothers Big Sisters years ago. It’s what motivated Blake to become a Big Brother and it’s what has kept them committed to BBBS’ mission and to supporting the agency’s Ice Ball year after year. On this 20^th Anniversary of the Ice Ball Gala, we are excited to honor the Abshers with this year’s Ice VII award.

“We are so humbled to receive this award,” said Blake. “We’re beyond honored to even be in the same category as the Ramseurs, the Nelsons, the Bennetts, the Christophers. People we think highly of, that we love and who have influenced us.”

Every year Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas presents the agency’s Ice VII Award to a person or couple whose reach and influence have positively impacted both BBBS and the organization’s signature Ice Ball Gala.

From Blake’s time as a Big Brother to their involvement with Ice Ball, Christine and Blake have worked to support BBBS and its mission in any way they can. Blake, an Advisory Council member, served as a member of BBBS’ Executive Board for 6 years and as Executive Board Chair in 2018 and 2019. The pair were also involved in BBBS’ capital campaign which resulted in the building of the agency’s new Mentoring Center.

He and Christine are long-time Ice Ball supporters as well, having served on the Ice Ball Host Committee for many years, and as Ice Ball Gala Chairs in 2017, a year when they led the event to even greater financial success amidst a category 1 hurricane.

Working in the banking industry, they offered not only their own support but the support of their respective banks as well. In 2015, under Blake’s leadership, BB&T (now Truist Bank) made a 3-year, $120,000 commitment to support BBBS’ gala as the Ice Ball’s first ever Diamond-level sponsor. In addition, Blake and Christine have recruited and rallied other individuals and organizations to support the agency’s mission as volunteers, donors, event sponsors, and agency champions.

“We love the fact that dollars raised for BBBS stay local and impact our local youth,” said Christine. “The money is going to improve the community. That means a lot.”

“You can see your dollars in action,” said Blake, “and you can see the programs your money is going to fund.”

As a Big Brother, and with Christine serving as an honorary Big in the match, they have seen the challenges kids in our program face. “I was matched with an 8-year-old,” said Blake. “It was one of those stories that really matches the statistics BBBS puts out. My Little was from a single-parent household, his family moved frequently, there was a lot of food insecurity. It was very eye-opening to me to see the challenges these kids face through no fault of their own.”

Through the match experience they witnessed the impact mentoring can then make. It’s this experience that motivated Christine and Blake to stay committed to BBBS through the years.

BBBS’ mission has come home to Christine and Blake in a new way as they enjoy their 4-year-old son. “We were involved with BBBS long before having a child, but when you see how much kids learn through experience,” said Christine, “BBBS can be relevant in children’s lives and make impactful changes.”

“BBBS is an extension of a family’s love,” said Christine. “Kids get it from all relationships. We’ve seen it in our child, with friends and family. They may get patience from one person, kindness from another. It’s the same with kids in the BBBS program.”

“It makes me think of what that one-to-one mentoring does,” said Blake. “It gives kids faith in life, hope, a positive outlook, and love.”

Offering positive change for kids in the community is what keeps the Absher’s involved in supporting BBBS and Ice Ball in particular. “It’s a great event, but the mission is always front and center,” said Blake, “and that’s what’s most important.”

“That’s what really resonates with me. The core values and core results that we see from BBBS,” said Blake. “We hear of horrific events in our society all the time, and I ask the question, ‘What if that person had had a Big in their life? What if they had had a positive influence?’”

“We invite friends and family to the Ice Ball,” said Blake. “We are all there with the same goal of doing good and supporting BBBS’ mission and supporting these kids and helping them find a really hopeful path in life.”

We are honored to present Christine and Blake Absher with Big Brothers Big Sisters’ 2024 Ice VII award.