Want more information about getting involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Mentoring Program?  Click here to learn about enrolling your child or here to find out about becoming a Volunteer "Big"!

One Hour a Week Can Make a BIG Difference

Community-based Mentoring is the traditional Big Brothers BigSisters relationship. It’s all about one-on-one time spent with the volunteer (19 or older) and the young person (ages 5-13) doing things they enjoy — a few hours a couple times a month filled with shared interests and activities like:

                       Shooting hoops
                       Playing a board game
                       Sharing a pizza
                       Taking a walk in the park
                       Hanging out and talking

The schedule can be flexible to meet the needs of mentors and young people in different kinds of situations. Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekend or in the evening. Others get together with their Littles after school.

Statistics show that children who are mentored are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and peers, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Students who are successful in school are less likely to drop out, become pregnant, abuse drugs or become involved in criminal activity. The success of children who are mentored is apparent in the following statistics. Little Brothers and Little Sisters are shown to be: 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, and more likely to get along with their families and peer.