About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida is a non-profit organization that has been serving the community for over 100 years. The organization's mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. They believe that every child has the potential to succeed in life, and they work tirelessly to help children achieve their goals.
The organization was founded in 1904 by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to help children who were living in poverty. Since then, Big Brothers Big Sisters has grown into one of the largest mentoring organizations in the country, with over 300 affiliates nationwide.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida serves children between the ages of 6 and 18 who come from low-income families or have other risk factors such as parental incarceration or military deployment. The program matches each child with a volunteer mentor who provides guidance, support, and friendship.
The mentors are carefully screened and trained before being matched with a child. They commit to spending at least one hour per week with their mentee for at least one year. During this time, they engage in activities such as playing sports, doing homework together, or simply hanging out.
The impact of these mentoring relationships is significant. Studies have shown that children who participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college than their peers who do not participate. They also have higher self-esteem and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug use or violence.
In addition to its core mentoring program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida offers several other programs designed to meet specific needs within the community. For example:
- School-Based Mentoring: This program matches volunteers with students during school hours for academic support.
- Beyond School Walls: This program brings together corporate partners and students for workplace-based mentoring.
- Mentor Moms: This program provides support for single mothers by matching them with volunteer mentors.
- Military Mentoring: This program supports military families by matching service members' children with volunteer mentors.
Big Brothers Big Sisters relies on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies to fund its programs. The organization also hosts several fundraising events throughout the year including Bowl For Kids' Sake which raises money through bowling tournaments across Northeast Florida.
In conclusion, if you're looking for an impactful way to give back to your community while making a difference in a child's life - consider volunteering your time or donating funds towards this amazing cause!
bbbsnefl.org
