About Our Organization
What does Big Brothers Big Sisters Do?
As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ('Bigs') and children ('Littles'), ages 6 through 21, in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. Professionally trained Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members work with our partners in Central Minnesota to find children facing adversity and assess how our programs can have the greatest impact. Big Brothers Big Sisters defends the potential of the youth who need us most.
How does "going BIG" help Big Brothers Big Sisters?
When you participate in Go Big for Kids' Sake, you have the power to change lives for the better, forever. It costs about $1,500 to recruit, match and professionally support a Big and a Little each year. However, there are no fees or fundraising requirements for our Littles. We depend on the money raised from Go Big for Kids' Sake to carry out the work of carefully matching youth with caring adult mentors and providing ongoing support to them, as well as, their family and the volunteer mentor. Today you can Register and Donate to our efforts to change the life of a child forever!
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 a 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, impactful friendships. The entire matching process is made possible through donations—we can't do what we do best without them!
What are a Big and Little to do?
Each match is unique. Getting together doesn't require a special occasion or expensive activity—just a few hours every month doing things the Little and Big already enjoy. In fact- in these times most of our Matches are meeting virtually! Catching up, playing games, reading books, going to virtual museums and providing advice and inspiration. Some are still meeting, safely, in person. Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends. Others get together with their Littles in the evenings. Each match develops a schedule that works for them. Sometimes the best place for enjoying activities together is at the child's school. And, the best part is, it can be a great learning experience, in or out of the classroom. Find out about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister by clicking here.
