Get Involved
Become a volunteer big
Start Something Today
Big Brothers Big Sisters targets the children who need us most, including those living in single parent homes, growing up in poverty and coping with parental incarceration. Starting something begins with finding a great match between a Big and a Little.
Making these matches, and performing all the background work involved with them, is possible because of donations from people like you. It's also why we're able to offer such a wide variety of programs that pair children, ages 6 through 18, with role models in one-to-one relationships.
Core Programs
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Community-Based Mentoring.
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School-Based Mentoring.
How a Big becomes a Big — and a Little, a Little.
Before we make a match, we do our homework. After someone expresses an interest in becoming a Big, they go through an extensive background check and careful interview process. Then we match Bigs and Littles based on location, personalities and preferences. And we provide full support from the start, so matches can grow into lasting, fruitful friendships. It’s also important to note that the entire matching process is made possible through donations—we can’t do what we do best without them!
What's a Big and a Litte do?
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Playing catch
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Reading books
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Getting ice cream
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Going to a museum
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Providing advice and inspiration
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For more information about all of our programs, contact us at info@bbbsblaircounty.org or (814)-944-6129.
Role models make an impact
Many relationships between Bigs and Littles are part of our Community-based programs. Community-based mentoring relationships involve one-on-one outings and activities, doing things the Big and Little enjoy together, like:
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Taking a walk in the park
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Going to museum
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Going to an event hosted by the local BBBS affiliate
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Hanging out and talking
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Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends. Others get together with their Littles on weekday evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them.
S.M.A.R.T. PROGRAM
This type of programming provides Littles (mentees) with a supportive Mentor to be a role model who will help them to succeed at home and at school. It is designed to serve Mentees at a designated site where they regularly meet with trained Mentors one-on-one or in a group setting and participate in planned activities. BBBS will support each match through ongoing case management and contact with the parent, child, and volunteer.
Mentoring.org
In January 2014, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership released a report that gives voice to our young people and their insights about the role of mentoring in their lives. The report, The Mentoring Effect, confirms that mentoring has a significant impact that results in positive outcomes for the youth involved. These critical relationships connect youth to social and economic opportunity, and through their success the mentoring effect has the potential to strengthen families, schools, businesses and communities. On this site, we will explore the mentoring effect through stories that demonstrate this powerful chain of outcomes.
Little Steps Lead to a Big Impact
With the help of a network of donors, partners, family members, and advocates, Big Brothers Big Sisters carefully matches youth facing adversity with caring, adult role models. Research proves that children enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol.