Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), in alignment with Realize the Dream, has announced a national commitment to inspire all Americans to create a kinder, stronger and more united society.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has committed to generating 10 million hours of service over the next three years across its network of agencies in all 50 states. This commitment supports Realize the Dream’s nationwide goal of generating 100 million hours of service by 2029, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth.
Martin Luther King, III and Arndrea Waters King joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and CEO, Artis Stevens on stage at the 2026 Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference to announce the commitment, which is meant to honor Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy and bring Americans together.
“My father knew that a kinder, stronger America is built not by words alone, but by the daily act of showing up for one another. Big Brothers Big Sisters has been showing up for young people for generations, and that is exactly the spirit Realize the Dream is calling all Americans to embrace. Ten million hours of service is not just a number. It is ten million moments where someone chooses to invest in another person’s future. That is how we honor his legacy,” said Martin Luther King III.
Service is the foundation of every movement that has ever mattered. Big Brothers Big Sisters has spent more than a century pairing young people with mentors who believe in them. That is service in its most powerful form. When we invest in young people, we are not just changing individual lives. We are building the united, compassionate society that Dr. King gave everything to create” added Arndrea Waters King.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. showed us that justice advances through dedicated service and human connection,” said Artis Stevens, President and CEO of BBBSA. “Big Brothers Big Sisters of America embodies that vision every day, through positive mentorship that create pathways to opportunity and greater economic mobility for young people. Our commitment of 10 million volunteer hours to Realize the Dream honors Dr. King’s enduring legacy and empowers brighter futures, one mentoring relationship at a time.”
Together, Realize the Dream and its partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America will help create meaningful impact in our societies and communities, rooted in service.