Why Enroll a Little?
| A record of success |
For more than 90 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been America's preeminent national youth serving organization. Our service is based on a One-To-One relationship between an adult volunteer and a child at risk.
Volunteers serve as friends, mentors and role models, helping children (who are primarily from single-parent homes) gain greater self-confidence. "Bigs" encourage "Littles" to realize their potential and see themselves as having happy and successful futures.
Big Brother and Big Sister mentors have influenced the lives of over one million children in thousands of communities across the nation. More than 500 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies nationwide "match" adult volunteers and children based on common interests and the child's specific needs. |
| Service that's proven effective |
A recent study conducted by a respected national research firm examined the effect of BBBS mentoring on youth and found that, compared to their peers, Little Brothers and Little Sisters who met with their Bigs regularly were:
· Forty-six percent less likely to start using drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking;
· Fifty-two percent less likely to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. (The youth not only skipped school less, but also earned slightly higher grades and felt slightly better about how they were doing in school);
· One-third less likely to hit someone; and
· More trusting of their parents or guardians, less likely to lie to them, and felt more supported and less criticized by their peers and friends.
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| Relationships that make an impact |
A Big Brother or Big Sister relationship provides the Little with an increased sense of belonging, and often leads to enhanced communication skills and improved performance at home, at school, and in the community. The Bigs and Littles have fun together and, ultimately, the volunteer also benefits by "giving something back" and by truly making a difference in the life of a child.
Each volunteer commits to spending a few hours a week for at least a year with their Little. Professional caseworkers provide supervision and support and work with the volunteer, the child, and the family to help set goals for the match.
Many BBBS agencies provide alternative mentoring opportunities with flexibility, and many also support youth development activities, such as community service projects. |
For more information on enrolling a
child, please contact our office at (856) 692-0916.
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