Quick Facts
What is Big Brothers Big Sisters?
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States, matching caring adults with children, ages 6 to1 6 years old, in one-to-one relationships.
Where is Big Brothers Big Sisters located?
Big Brothers Big Sisters' 400+ agencies are located in 5,000 communities across the country. The national headquarters is located in Philadelphia, PA. The Central Texas agency's main office is located in Austin, Texas.
How did Big Brothers Big Sisters get started?
For more than a century, Big Brothers and Big Sisters have helped children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one relationships with measurable impact. In 1904, a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter was seeing more and more boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these kids stay out of trouble, and he set out to find volunteers. That marked the beginning of the Big Brothers movement. By 1916, Big Brothers had spread to 96 cities across the country. At around the same time, the members of a group called Ladies of Charity were befriending girls who had come through the New York Children’s Court. That group would later become Catholic Big Sisters. Both groups continued to work independently until 1977, when Big Brothers of America and Big Sisters International joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. More than a century later, Big Brothers Big Sisters remains true to our founders’ vision of bringing caring mentors into the lives of children. Big Brothers Big Sisters currently operates in all 50 states and in 35 countries around the world!
How can I get involved?
There are two ways to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters: volunteering or making a donation.
Learn more about donating>>
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What is a "Big?"
A Big Brother or Big Sister is a mature adult, age 18 years or older, who is interested in being a part of a child's life a few times a month for a minimum of one year.
What is a "Little?"
A Little Brother or Little Sister is a child in our program between the ages of 6-16. Our Littles come from all different backgrounds and socio-economic groups.
How do the children and parents get into the BBBS program?
All of the children and their families join Big Brothers Big Sisters because they are wanting to get involved with a positive program that works. They usually hear about us through word of mouth, from their friends, relatives, schools, and other Bigs and Littles.
Learn more about enrolling a child>>
What is a "Match?"
A match is the pairing of a Big Brother to a Little Brother, a Big Sister to a Little Brother or Little Sister, or a Big Couple to a Little Brother. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches volunteers with children who have similar interests in order to make the best possible match.
What is the benefit of Big Brothers Big Sisters?
The individualized attention and companionship our children receive as a result of being matched has proven to help keep them away from drugs and alcohol, keep them in school and greatly reduce the likelihood they will have delinquent or aggressive behaviors.
Learn more about our impact>>
Does being a Big Brother or Big Sister require experience?
You do not need any special skills or experience to be a Big. Just spending time and caring about your Little makes a difference in the life of a child. We were all kids once, it does not take special skills to be a friend.
Why should I become a Big Brother or Big Sister?
Many Bigs describe their experiences with their match by saying, "I get to be a kid again." At this time, Big Brothers Big Sisters has more than 1,000 active matches in Central Texas. Imagine a child's eyes lighting up the first time he or she walks into a baseball stadium or sees a play. Not only can you be there when it happens, but you can be the reason it did.
Does being a Big Brother or Big Sister take a lot of time?
Big Brothers Big Sisters has many flexible volunteer opportunities to fit anyone's busy schedule. As a Big Brother or Big Sister you see your Little Brother or Little Sister three to four times per month and do things that you already do. The average outing is anywhere from one to four hours. School-based mentoring programs allow the volunteer to visit their Little at school, typically during lunch or after school, to visit, play games, do homework or just talk. Community-based Bigs pick up their Littles and enjoy activities in the community such as going to the park, going out to eat or visiting local museums. The possibilities are endless.
What do Bigs and Littles do together?
Getting together is a great time for both Bigs and Littles. It doesn't require a special occasion or expensive activities; just a few hours every month sharing simple things you already enjoy with a young person. Things like shooting hoops, playing a board game, sharing a pizza, taking a walk in the park, or just hanging out and talking.
Does it cost a lot of money to be a volunteer?
The idea is not to spend a lot of money, but instead to spend fun, quality time with a child. You can take a hike, go jogging in the park or just talk. It does not have to cost anything. Also, Big Brothers Big Sisters has a discount program that includes many local restaurants, entertainment and recreational businesses. Additionally, Big Brothers Big Sisters offers many free agency outings such as the annual Holiday Party and Hobie Day. Big Brothers Big Sisters also offers free tickets to many sporting and cultural events.
As a Big, what kind of support will I get from Big Brothers Big Sisters?
Each match has a professional Match Support Specialist who is there to support the child, parent and volunteer. The Match Support Specialist helps with any problem solving, feedback and information to help the match along.
Does Big Brothers Big Sisters accept gay/lesbian volunteers?
Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud that not only do we have a nondiscrimination policy, but also it's part of our philosophy. We embrace diversity and believe every human being can offer positive role modeling.
What is the application process like to be a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer?
The application process to become a volunteer depends on how quickly you get your application materials to us. The Application process includes a personal confidential interview, a criminal background check, driving record check, personal and professional references, and a processing fee of $30.
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