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Mission
Our mission is to strengthen children in need through one-to-one relationships with
volunteer mentors.
Vision
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Vision is successful mentoring relationships for all
children who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, better schools,
and stronger communities for all.
Big Brothers was founded
in New York City in 1904 by Court Clerk Ernest Coulter. Appalled by the suffering
and misery of the thousands of children who came through his courtroom, he appealed
to civic and business leaders to take on the role of a “Big Brother.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit (BBBS) has been serving children
in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties since the 1930s. In 1974, Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit was formed from the merger of Detroit Episcopal
City Mission Society, Catholic Big Brothers, and Big Brothers affiliates in Oakland
and Macomb counties.
Most of the youth in our programs are being raised in single-parent households or
by a non-parent caregiver or guardian; many live in low-income families and communities
with few community resources; and many are doing poorly in school and lack positive
adult role models. In 2004, 31% of the children served by BBBS had family incomes
below $10,000 and 58% came from families with incomes below $20,000.
Who Our Littles Are
Youth
ages 7-14 will benefit from a one-to-one friendship with a positive adult. Ninety
percent live with a single parent or relative.
Benefits of Mentoring
Mentoring is a structured
and trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals
who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the character
of the mentee.
Children with a Big Brother or Big Sister build skills in caring, competence and
confidence, known as developmental assets in the youth development world, that build
their resilience and capacity to deal with the challenges they will face in their
young lives and will make them more likely to succeed as they make the transition
through adolescence and into young adulthood.
In a national study, Public/Private
Ventures found that youth matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister are:
• 46% less likely to start using drugs (with an even greater impact with minority
youth, who were 70% less likely to initiate drug use);
• 27% less likely to start using alcohol (minority girls were 50% less likely);
• 33% less likely to engage in violent behavior;
• 52% less likely to skip a day of school, and in general skipped fewer classes,
felt more competent in doing schoolwork, and had modest gains in their grade point
average;
• Likely to show significant improvement in their relationships with family
members and peers.
An evaluation of school-based
Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs found that:
• 64% of the students developed a more positive attitude toward school;
• 58% achieved higher grades;
• 55% were better able to express their feelings;
• 64% had higher levels of self confidence;
• 62% were more likely to trust their teachers.
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We proudly serve Wayne, Oakland, Macomb counties.
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