The quality of the time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That’s why we don’t encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire your Little to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Play a game together, or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies offer donor-supported group activities that are a great way to meet other Bigs and Littles. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy.

After you are matched, you’ll get a dedicated Mentoring Relationship Specialist who’ll stay in touch with you regularly to provide assistance and feedback. You can always reach out to them whenever you are unsure about how to handle a situation or what to do next. They’ll guide you with ideas for fun activities, advise you on handling possible difficult situations, and provide feedback on how you’re making a difference.

For Bigs who are looking to grow as a mentor professionally and personally, BBBSCI hosts trainings throughout the year that touch on various topics like youth mental health, cultural humility, empathy, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and much more.

For Community-Based (“CB”) mentoring relationships, BBBSCI also provides fun, engaging, and educational activities for Bigs and Littles to do together! Each month, we host or facilitate approximately 10 activities for Bigs and Littles each month that explore different hobbies, passions, and learning opportunities.

A “Big” is a caring individual, aged 19 years or older, who is interested in being a part of a child’s life at least twice a month for a minimum of one year.

You don’t need any special degrees or job skills. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit.

You don’t have to do it alone, either. Becoming a Big Couple or Big Friends are options for couples or friends that would prefer a shared experience as opposed to each of them having a Little of their own.  Big Friends are two individuals who have been “friends” for a minimum of 2 years and want to be matched together to the same Little. Big Couples have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but do not have to be married.

A “Big” is a caring individual, aged 19 years or older, who is interested in being a part of a child’s life at least 4-6 hours per month for a minimum of one year.