About Big brothers big sisters of greater miami
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami: Empowering Youth for a Better Future
For over six decades, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami (BBBS Miami) has been at the forefront of youth mentoring programs in the United States. As a premier nonprofit organization, BBBS Miami has been empowering young people to reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring adult volunteers.
Founded in 1958, BBBS Miami has since grown into one of the largest and most successful affiliates of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The organization's mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better.
BBBS Miami's impact on the community has been significant. Over the years, thousands of children have benefited from its programs and services. The organization's commitment to helping young people succeed is reflected in its core values: accountability, excellence, innovation, integrity, respect and teamwork.
One-to-One Mentoring Programs
At BBBS Miami, they believe that every child deserves a chance to succeed in life. That's why they offer several mentoring programs designed to meet the unique needs of each child they serve:
Community-Based Mentoring: This program matches adult volunteers ("Bigs") with children ("Littles") between ages 6-18 who live or attend school in Miami-Dade County. Volunteers commit to spending at least four hours per month with their Little Brother or Sister doing activities they both enjoy.
School-Based Mentoring: This program pairs adult volunteers with students who need extra support during school hours. Volunteers meet with their Little Brother or Sister once a week during lunchtime or after school on campus.
Mentor2Work Program: This program provides high school juniors and seniors with career readiness training and job shadowing opportunities through partnerships with local businesses.
Beyond School Walls Program: This program connects high school students from underserved communities with mentors who work at local corporations for monthly group activities focused on career exploration and skill-building.
Impactful Results
The impact that BBBS Miami has had on its community is undeniable. According to research conducted by Public/Private Ventures (P/PV), youth enrolled in BBBS programs are:
- 46% less likely than their peers to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely than their peers to begin using alcohol
- 52% less likely than their peers to skip school
- More confident about academic performance
- More likely than non-participants to graduate from high school
In addition, P/PV found that every dollar invested in BBBS generates $18 worth of social return on investment (SROI).
Volunteer Opportunities
BBBS Miami relies heavily on volunteer support from individuals who want to make a difference in young people's lives. There are several ways you can get involved:
Become A Mentor: If you're interested in becoming a mentor ("Big"), visit www.bbbsmiami.org/volunteer/apply-now/ for more information about how you can make an impact today!
Donate To Support Their Mission: Your donation will help provide more children facing adversity access quality mentoring relationships that will change their lives forever! Visit www.bbbsmiami.org/donate/ today!
Attend An Event Or Fundraiser: Throughout the year there are many events hosted by BBBSMiami where you can show your support while having fun! Check out www.bbbsmiami.org/events/ for upcoming events near you!
Conclusion
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami is an exceptional nonprofit organization dedicated solely towards empowering young people through mentorship programs designed specifically around each individual child’s needs; whether it be Community-Based Mentoring which matches adult volunteers (“Bigs”) up against kids (“Littles”) between ages six-eighteen living within Dade County; School-Based Mentoring which pairs adults up against students needing extra support during class time; Mentor2Work Program providing juniors/seniors career readiness training/job shadowing opportunities via partnerships w/local businesses; Beyond School Walls Program connecting underserved communities’ high-schoolers w/corporate mentors monthly group activities focused around skill-building/career exploration – all aimed towards creating positive outcomes such as increased confidence levels academically/performance-wise as well as higher graduation rates among participants compared non-participants alike!