Start Something BIG.
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through 18, in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
Our mission: To provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
Our vision: That all children achieve success in life.
Accountability: We partner with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community
to hold ourselves accountable for each child in our program achieving:
· Higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships
· Avoidance of risky behaviors
· Educational success
Core Programs
Community-Based:
Many relationships between Bigs and Littles fall under our Community-Based programs. These are one-to-one outings and activities, doing things they enjoy together, like:
Taking a walk in the park, going fishing, visiting a museum, doing arts & crafts, listening to music, talking and hanging out.
Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends. Others get together with their Littles in the evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them.
School-based
It’s teacher-approved. Some of the biggest supporters of our School-Based Mentoring program are actually teachers. They see students come back from their time with their Big filled with confidence, smiling big, ready to learn and eager to succeed.
Although it takes place at schools, our School-Based Mentoring program isn’t limited to the classroom. Of course, some Littles do homework or read together, but it’s perfectly fine to shoot hoops in the gym or play on the playground. At the end of the day, it's really all about starting a friendship, providing guidance and inspiring them to reach their potential.
Click here to learn more about our Native American Mentoring Program
Click here to learn more about our Hispanic Mentoring Program
Each time Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs a child with a role model we start something incredible:
a one-to-one relationship built on trust and friendship that can blossom into a future of unlimited potential. We help children realize their potential and build their futures. We nurture children and strengthen communities. And we couldn’t do any of it without your support.
Our Programs Start Something.
National research has shown that positive relationships between Littles and their Bigs have a direct and measurable impact on children’s lives. By participating in our programs, Little Brothers and Sisters are:
Click here to read more about our impact.
