“My Little Sister is smart, funny, caring and makes me smile at every outing.”

Services

Big Brothers Big Sisters changes the perspective of children and thus changes their lives for the better. Children who are provided with a Big Brother or Big Sister show:

Improved school attitude
Improved school performance
Improved high school graduation rates
Improved sense of the future and their place in it
Improved ability to resist use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products
Improved ability to solve conflicts non-violently

We do this by:

Community Based Mentoring matches volunteers, who we call "Bigs", ages 21 and older (no upper age limit) or college students with children, who we call "Littles", ages 4 to 18 years old. Bigs and Littles build a friendship though which the Little’s perspective about their future grows and changes. The Big and Little get together one-on-one, once a week for about 2 to 4 hours each time. Bigs experience the joy of helping children discover a world of possibilities and opportunities. They do fun, low-cost or free activities like playing at a park, shooting hoops, sharing some laughs, playing or watching sports, or sharing hobbies.

Bigs In Schools Children at identified schools are identified by school personnel and matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister to spend one-on-one time, once a week during the school day. Most Bigs have lunch and share recess with the child each week, building a friendship where the child builds his or her expectations for their own lives. As their friendships evolve, volunteers and children discover ways to make school and learning fun. Bigs and Littles can share lunch, play games, shoot hoops, use the computer lab or library.

Partners Matches enables married couples to team up and be paired with a Little Brother in our community based program. Weekly visits can include one spouse or both, depending on who's available each week. This gives flexibility to the couple and shows the Little the model of a healthy marriage and family.

Power Mentoring provides mentors for children ages 6 to 19 who have a sibling who has been involved with Washoe County Juvenile Services.

Reaching for the Stars matches children who have or had a parent or important family member in prison with a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister, either through the Community Based Mentoring Program or Bigs in Schools or Partners. Nevada has the highest rate of incarceration in the western region of the US, the 11th highest in the nation. Children who have a parent in prison are 70% more likely to go to prison themselves, unless they have someone like a Big Brother or Big Sister in their lives. Children with two parents in prison are 90% more likely to go to prison, again, unless they are matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister.

Please contact us at 352-3202 and let us know how we can assist you.

Gala 2010

Services