Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children ages 6 through 14 with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships. Matches can stay together with the support of the agency until the age of 18. We serve the six county area of Bernalillo, Cibola, Sandoval, Socorro, Torrance, and Valencia.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Vocabulary
- Mentor - a trusted counselor or guide
- Big - Adult volunteer who is matched with a Little
- Little - Child enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters who is matched with a Big
- Match - A Big and Little who have been paired based on their common interests
- Site-Based Program - A program where a Big and Little match meet at the Little's school or community center to participate in activities and build their friendship Learn more »
- Community-Based Program - A program where a Big picks up a Little at home and they go out to participate in activities and build their friendship Learn more »
- Support Specialist - A professional staff person from Big Brothers Big Sisters assigned to a match to help facilitate the growth of the friendship
- Inspire a child to dream - What a Big does for a Little by being there as a friend
Matches come together through our two essential programs Community-Based and Site-Based.
Within our two essential programs we have special initiatives to serve more children in our community:
How a Big becomes a Big matched with a Little
A lot of things have to happen before we make a match. All our Bigs receive a thorough background check and careful interview process. Then we match Bigs and Littles based on location, personalities and preferences. We provide full support along the way — so that matches can grow into lasting friendships.
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What Bigs and Littles Do
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
More information on volunteering »
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More information on enrolling a child »
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More info on child safety »
Your donation will make a difference
Calls come in every day from parents, teachers and guidance counselors. They know what a difference a mentor can make in a child’s life. Inspire children in your local community to dream with your gift:
- Helping us to recruit new Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers
- Ensuring that trained professionals match children to caring and responsible Bigs
- Offering one-on-one, ongoing supervision and support for every match
- Providing cultural and social activities to enrich opportunities for children
And 92.2% of every dollar you give goes directly to making and supporting matches; the remainder covers overall program administration.
Think about a child who has wished for a Big Brother or Big Sister. Someone to have fun with and confide in. Someone to be a mentor. A guide. A friend. Now … think of how your gift could make a difference in that child’s life.
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Ready to Get Involved?
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