Big Brothers Big Sisters Information

Since 1970 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan (Bigs) has served over 13,000 children in five counties in northwestern Michigan (Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska). Currently Bigs serves over 300 children per year, changing outcomes and reversing the downward spiral brought on by poverty and the absence of consistent adult guidance. Vision: All youth achieve their full potential. Mission: Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Mentoring is Fun. And most anyone can be a mentor and change a life. By participating in fun activities together and forming a trusting bond with a child, it can potentially rewrite a child’s future. AND change your life. Facts. Comparison of children in the same demographic who did not participate in the Bigs program to children who were matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister: 77% did better in school 52% reported their Big kept them from dropping out of school 42% earned a four-year degree 46% have a household income of $75,000 or more Wall Street Journal (July 6, 2013): “We found tremendous financial value generated through higher taxes and higher spending due to increased income and increased charitable donations in time and money. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs generate an average social return on investment or SROI of $18 for every dollar invested.” Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child (May, 2016): “the single most common finding is that children who end up doing well have had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult.” Both the Wall Street Journal and Harvard University agree that Big Brothers Big Sisters is the Gold Standard of mentoring and that an investment in Bigs will have a transformative effect on young lives and yield robust long-term financial returns and societal value.