Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Missouri

OUR MISSION:

To create and support one-to-one relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT:

By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community we are accountable for each child in our program achieving:

-High aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships

-Avoidance of risky behaviors

-Educational success

OUR PROGRAMS:

Community-Based

Many relationships between Bigs and Littles are part of our Community-based programs. Community-based mentoring relationships involve one-on-one outings and activities, doing things the Big and Little enjoy together, like:

• Taking a walk in the park

• Going to museum

• Going to an event hosted by the local BBBS affiliate

• Listening to music

• Hanging out and talking

Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends. Others get together with their Littles on weekday evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them.

Studies show that children who have role models are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Students who are successful in school are less likely to drop out, abuse drugs, or commit crimes.

School-Based

It may sound obvious, but sometimes the best place to help a child realize their potential is at school. Kids enjoy having their Bigs meet with them there, whether it’s in the classroom or on the playground. And parents know what a positive impact it makes.

Some of the biggest supporters of our School-Based Mentoring program are actually teachers. They see students come back from their time with their Big filled with confidence, smiling big, ready to learn and eager to succeed.

Although it takes place at schools, our School-Based Mentoring program isn’t limited to the classroom. Of course, some Littles do talk with their Bigs about class, or do homework, or read together, but it’s perfectly fine to shoot hoops in the gym or play on the playground. At the end of the day, it's really all about starting a friendship, providing guidance and inspiring them to reach their potential.

HISTORY: 

For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been helping change kids’ perspectives and giving them the opportunity to reach their potential. 

It all started in 1904, when a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter was seeing more and more boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these kids stay out of trouble, and he set out to find volunteers. That marked the beginning of the Big Brothers movement.

At around the same time, the members of a group called Ladies of Charity were befriending girls who had come through the New York Children’s Court. That group would later become Catholic Big Sisters.

Both groups continued to work independently until 1977, when Big Brothers Association and Big Sisters International joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

More than 100 years later, Big Brothers Big Sisters remains true to our founders’ vision of bringing caring role models into the lives of children. And, today, Big Brothers Big Sisters currently operates in all 50 states—and in 12 countries around the world.

Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri has been supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships since 1968 in the mid-Missouri area, specifically in the counties of Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cooper and Randolph.