Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County changes the lives of children, teenagers, and young adults. By fostering one-to-one mentoring relationships for at risk youth, we increase their odds of succeeding in school, behaving nonviolently, avoiding drugs and alcohol and breaking negative cycles.
For 36 years, our donor-driven, volunteer-supported organization has matched vulnerable children with a caring adult who provides guidance, positive influences and friendship. Our professional staff provides ongoing support to the children, families and volunteers, building strong, long-lasting relationships. With your support, we can make real change happen. We have an abundant supply of Littles. Right now, 1,500 children, teens and young adults in Broward County are waiting to be matched.
The need to fund the matchmaking process is urgent. Research confirms that a relationship with a mentor significantly impacts a child and helps them become a confident, successful adult.
A breakthrough study conducted in 2009 found that adults who were mentored as children in Big Brothers Big Sisters are better educated, happier in their relationships and more successful than a group of peers who were not involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters. Alumni were 75% more likely than non-alumni to have received a four-year college degree, and 62% of alumni perceive themselves to have achieved a higher level of success than their peers who were not involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters alumni reported that having a Big in their lives positively influenced their self-confidence, provided stability, changed their perspectives on life and influenced aspects of their education, pushing them to set higher goals and make better decisions. This study, conducted by Harris Interactive®, proves that the effectiveness of the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring model extends well beyond childhood and truly influences and positively impacts lives. The results show what Big Brothers Big Sisters has upheld for years; alumni recognize that having been a Little contributes significantly to they person they are today, and that having been in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program as a child results in genuine, positive outcomes. Be a part of the change we make happen every day. Help vulnerable children beat the odds. Start Something BIG!
