Big Brothers Big Sisters: Mentoring Matters

Our mission is to help children in need reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships.

The youth in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation are 76% less likely to be involved in gangs, and for over 55 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire have continued to make an impact in the lives of thousands of children. Together, BBBS and their volunteers work to enhance the social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive competencies of children living in poverty, to improve academic achievement and educational commitment, to improve the health standards of these children and inform of preventative health, to improve the children’s sense of a future, and to build the sense of self-worth for children.

Their goal: to serve 5,000 children each year by 2020 by ensuring effectiveness and quality of Big Brothers Big Sisters. A lot of the at-risk youth’s lives are transformed by Big Brothers Big Sisters. They work to transform the at-risk neighborhoods and schools in order to make the lives of children living in poverty better.

What does “at-risk” mean?

“At-risk youth” applies to children and adoelscents who are associated with crime, violence, sex, substance abuse, or a lack of access to basic human rights like healthcare or education. An at-risk child can live below the poverty level, live in low-income situations, or struggle with complex situations like difficult social environments, a hard family life, or peer pressure.

What does a Big Brother or a Big Sister do?

Over 1,500 at-risk children from ages six to eighteen are matched carefully with adult volunteers. They have multiple programs for children to cooperate in to ameliorate their situations.

The Community Based Mentoring Program matches one child with one mentor. This provides a one-year commitment meeting twice a month for two to four hours.

The Workplace Mentoring Program matches volunteers with adolescents in their sophomore year of high school. They teach students the necessary skills to succeed in the working world and instill the desire to do well in school.

The School Based Program offers consistent time and attention to children who need a long-term caring adult in their lives. The mentor meets with the child once a week for one hour – this commitment lasts 1 year.

Give Back to Big Brothers Big Sisters

You can give back to Big Brothers Big Sisters by becoming a Big, by making a donation, or by volunteering at their bingo hall.

To become a Big, you need to fill out the application and apply here. If you have any questions contact David Garvey at 213-213-2463 or email him at David. Garvey@bbbsla.org.

90% of the Big Brothers Big Sister budget is thanks to the generous donors. It costs $1500 to make a match. Even a small donation will help since they currently support over 1500 matches. Donate now or give an honorary gift. To make a donation over the phone contact Sylvia Ghazarian at 213-213-2422 or email at Sylvia.Ghazarian@bbbsla.org.

You can also donate your time at Bingo night. On Friday and Saturday night, Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts a live bingo night. It takes place Friday from 5:30PM to 11:00 PM and Saturday 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM at 5601 W. Slauson Ave, Suite 130, Culver City, CA 90230. Contact Rick Craft at 213-213-2424 or Rick.Craft@bbbsla.org.