Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a nationwide youth mentoring organization that establishes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers, known as "Bigs," and children, referred to as "Littles," aged 6 to 18. With a legacy spanning over 100 years, the organization focuses on fostering positive relationships that significantly enhance the lives of young people, helping them to succeed and thrive in their communities. Committed to addressing the unique needs of various populations, including children of military families, Big Brothers Big Sisters operates both community-based and school-based programs. Through its initiatives, the organization aims to instill confidence, resilience, and opportunity in youth, ultimately shaping a brighter future for generations to come. Generated from the website

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley is a youth mentoring organization that has been serving communities in Macomb, IL, and the surrounding areas for many years. They believe in the power of mentorship and strive to make a positive impact on the lives of children and teenagers. With their It Takes Little to Be Big campaign, they aim to inspire change and encourage individuals to become mentors, emphasizing that even the smallest commitment can have a monumental impact on a child's life and future. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters creates meaningful and monitored matches between adult volunteers (Bigs) and children (Littles) aged 6 to 18. Their goal is to develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. With over 200 kids on the waiting list locally and 30,000 nationwide, they are dedicated to bringing in new mentors and igniting the potential of children in need.Generated from the website

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Illinois Capital Region ( BBBS ) was organized and incorporated in 1972. A group of ten members of the community recognized a need for a mentoring program that focused on positive youth development. During the first year of the organization, 50 children were matched with positive adult mentors ( Big Brothers and Big Sisters ). During the first two years, the program was run strictly by volunteers, many of whom worked out of their own homes. In 1976, BBBS hired its first Executive Director, Debra Beard, who served the agency for nearly 30 years. In 1999, after identifying the need for mentoring services in Christian County, Big Brothers Big Sisters expanded its services to include Christian County, and an office opened in Taylorville. In January 2007, the agency began serving children in Montgomery County. The agency's current Executive Director, Chris Hembrough began July 2007.Big Brothers Big Sisters offers one-to-one mentoring relationships to children who have been referred to us, either by a parent or a teacher. We serve children in Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin and Montgomery Counties through both the Community-Based and School-Based Mentoring programs. In 2008, BBBS served 875 children through our mentoring programs.As we continue to serve more children and make an impact in our community, we will serve these children as we always have--one child at a time.