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Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Founded1904; 121 years ago (1904)
Cincinnati, Ohio
New York
FounderErnest Kent Coulter
TypeNon-governmental organization
FocusMentorship, education
HeadquartersTampa, Florida, United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Artis Stevens,[1] President and CEO
RevenueUS$21 million[2] (2019)
Websitehttps://www.bbbs.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to "create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth".[3] Adult volunteers are matched with children from age 5 to young adulthood. It was founded by Ernest Kent Coulter.[4]

As one of the oldest and largest[5] youth mentoring organizations in the United States, BBBSA provides guidance, resources, and support to its network of local BBBS agencies.

Local Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Agencies

Local BBBS agencies[6] operate under the umbrella of BBBSA, implementing mentoring programs in their respective communities. These agencies match adult volunteers (Bigs) with children (Littles) ages 5 through young adulthood. The specific age range of children and youth served may vary by affiliate.

The mentoring programs[7] offered by local BBBS agencies are designed to help children reach their full potential and thrive in various aspects of their lives, including education, social skills, and personal development.

Congressional charter

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The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.

Impact

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Public/Private Ventures, an independent Philadelphia-based national research organization, conducted a study from 1994 to 1995, monitoring 950 boys and girls nationwide to study the effects of Big Brothers Big Sisters.[8] CEO Karen J. Mathis reported that the study found favorable outcomes to the organization.

Public/Private Ventures conducted another study in 2011 that evaluated the school-based Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.[9][10] This program also found favorable outcomes.

In 2025, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America released a comprehensive study[11] conducted in collaboration with researchers from Harvard University and the U.S. Department of Treasury, examining the long-term effects of their mentorship programs. The study, which analyzed three decades of data, demonstrated significant positive outcomes across educational, economic, and social dimensions.

Economic Impact

The research revealed substantial economic benefits for mentored youth:

·      Participants showed a 15% increase in earnings between ages 20-25

·      Adult income of mentored youth aligned more closely with their mentor's income than their family's income, reducing the socioeconomic gap by approximately two-thirds

·      The program demonstrated cost-effectiveness, with government investment recovery occurring within seven years through increased lifetime earnings and related tax revenue

·      Program costs ranged from $2,000 to $3,000 per youth annually

Educational Outcomes

The study found notable improvements in educational achievement:

·      Mentored youth showed 20% higher college attendance rates compared to non-mentored peers

·      Within 18 months of program participation, mentored youth demonstrated reduced absenteeism and fewer school suspensions

Social Impact

The research identified several positive social outcomes:

·      Participants showed improved behavioral patterns and stronger social bonds

·      Mentored youth exhibited reduced dependency on social services

·      The program demonstrated effectiveness as a scalable solution for reducing socioeconomic disparities without requiring complete environmental change

Research Methodology

The 2025 study [12]built upon a 1991 randomized control trial conducted by Public/Private Ventures and Mathematica Policy Research. The research methodology involved.

·      Analysis of participants aged 10-14 who applied to BBBSA community-based mentoring in the early 1990s

·      Demographic composition included 60% male participants and over 50% racial minorities

·      Data collection combined BBBS administrative records with U.S. tax records

·       Study period extended into the 2020s, providing long-term impact assessment

This research represented the first major study to identify community mentorship as a cost-effective intervention for improving socioeconomic mobility without requiring complete environmental change.

History

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The Founding Years (1904–1948)

The Big Brothers movement[13] began in 1904 when Ernest Coulter, a clerk at the New York Children's Court, noticed an increasing number of young boys appearing before the court. Concerned by this trend, Coulter theorized[14] that providing positive adult mentorship could help prevent youth delinquency. He began recruiting volunteers from local civic organizations to serve as mentors to these boys, leading to the establishment of Big Brothers of New York City. Around the same time as Coulter's initiative, a similar effort focused on young women emerged. The Catholic Ladies of Charity, addressing concerns about girls in the New York court system, established the Catholic Big Sisters organization[15]. This group developed structured mentoring programs aimed at supporting young women through positive female role models. In Cincinnati, businessman Irvin F. Westheimer independently introduced a mentoring initiative after noticing a young boy searching for food near his office. Rather than offering temporary assistance, Westheimer formed an ongoing mentorship with the child, leading him to recognize the broader need for structured guidance.

Encouraging other businessmen to take part, he helped demonstrate that the mentorship model[16] could be implemented beyond New York City. By 1912, Big Brothers programs had expanded to 26 cities across the United States. The movement's growth was further supported by endorsements from public figures, including Theodore Roosevelt Jr., President Calvin Coolidge, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who recognized mentorship as a valuable support system for youth. In 1948, artist Norman Rockwell created an illustration for the Big Brothers Association, contributing to the organization’s public identity. Rockwell's depiction helped raise awareness of the mentorship movement and reinforced its mission of fostering positive relationships between mentors and youth.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Artis Stevens Named New President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America". 2020-11-23. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  2. ^ "Financial Statements". Big Brothers Big Sisters of America – Youth Mentoring. 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  3. ^ "About Us: Big Brothers Big Sisters". 21 September 2016.
  4. ^ "MS-852: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association of Cincinnati Records. 1913-2010". collections.americanjewisharchives.org. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  5. ^ "Home". Big Brothers Big Sisters of America - Youth Mentoring. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  6. ^ Herrera, Carla; DuBois, David L.; Heubach, Janet; Grossman, Jean B. (2023-01-01). "Effects of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Community-Based Mentoring Program on social-emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes of participating youth: A randomized controlled trial". Children and Youth Services Review. 144: 106742. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106742. ISSN 0190-7409.
  7. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  8. ^ "Big impact—proven results". Big Brothers Big Sisters. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  9. ^ "Promising Practices Network | Programs that Work | Big Brothers Big Sisters of America". Promisingpractices.net. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  10. ^ Herrera, C., Grossman, J. B., Kauh, T. J., & McMaken, J. (2011). "Mentoring in Schools: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based Mentoring". Child Development, 82(1), 346–361.
  11. ^ https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4868302. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ https://ppv.issuelab.org/resources/11972/11972.pdf. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ^ Upi (1981-01-01). "IRVIN F. WESTHEIMER, 101, FOUNDER OF BIG BROTHERS AT START OF CENTURY". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  14. ^ "Big Brothers Big Sisters: 100+ Years of Volunteering". Engage Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  15. ^ "The end of an era for the Sisters of Charity of New York". AP News. 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
  16. ^ "History Draft Page". Big Brothers Big Sisters of America - Youth Mentoring. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
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