Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. They have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors children, ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country.
National research has shown that positive relationships between youth and their Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentors have a direct and measurable impact on children's lives. Statistics show that Little Brothers and Sisters are:
In its most recent review, Big Brothers Big Sisters was selected by Forbes Magazine as one of its top ten charities, making the publication?s ?gold star? list of charities worthy of donor consideration. The magazine surveyed 200 non-profits and rated them on how efficiently they collect and distribute dollars. Forbes looked at three categories: charitable commitment; fundraising efficiency, and donor dependency.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is rated a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator, America?s premier charity evaluator. The top rating reflects organizational efficiency and capacity.[2]
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance's Standards for Charity Accountability.[3]
In 1904, a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Kent 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 Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City and the Big Brothers movement. By 1916, Big Brothers had spread to 96 cities across the country.
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 of America and Big Sisters International joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Big Brothers Big Sisters currently operates in all 50 states and in 12 countries around the world.[5]
History of Organization
1902 Coulter, a court clerk, helps organize the first New York Children's Court, under Judge Julius Mayer; Ladies of Charity, later Catholic Big Sisters of New York, starts to befriend girls who come before the New York Children's Court
1903 Businessman Irvin F. Westheimer befriends a young boy in Cincinnati, OH; seeds sown for the start of Big Brothers in Cincinnati
1904 Ernest Coulter founds the organized Big Brothers movement by obtaining 39 volunteers, who each agree to befriend one boy
1912 The New York Times reports Big Brothers activity in 26 cities
1914 Ernest Coulter embarks on nationwide lecture tour on behalf of Big Brothers; planning begins for a national Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization
1916 Big Brothers work spreads to 96 cities
1917 The first national conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations is held in Grand Rapids, MI., leading to the later organization of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation
1925 Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation holds its first conference for agency executives; President Calvin Coolidge becomes patron of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation
1930 Six hundred delegates attend a Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation meeting in New York City
1934 President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt become patrons of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation
1940 National Committee on Big Brothers and Big Sisters service is created to continue to pursue the formation of a national group
1947 Big Brothers Association headquarters opens in Philadelphia
1948Norman Rockwell produces the sketch that becomes a symbol for the Big Brothers Association
1958 Big Brothers Association is chartered by Congress
1969 Big Brothers Association grows to 150 affiliated agencies
1970 Big Sisters International is incorporated
1971 Big Brothers Association reports 208 affiliates
1977 Big Sisters International and Big Brothers Association merge, forming Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with 357 agencies, mostly independent agencies with their own nonprofit status and governing board
1984 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America occupies its new headquarters at 230 North 13th Street in Philadelphia
1985 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is honored with a commemorative stamp by the Postmaster General
1989 Public/Private Ventures begins study to gauge impact on youth of having a Big Brother or Sister
1995 Public/Private Ventures Study research shows measurable, positive results on youth who have a Big Brother or Sister--seminal research in the field of youth mentoring
1997 President Bill Clinton holds Volunteer Summit in Philadelphia; Big Brothers Big Sisters plays key role
1998 Big Brothers Big Sisters International is founded
2000 Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools becomes a core program. Partnerships with schools and volunteer-rich organizations such as churches, colleges, employers, and fraternities are emphasized. The Amachi Big Brothers Big Sisters program which matches children of prisoners with church congregants is piloted.
2001 The slogan "Little Moments, Big Magic" is introduced
2002 The Service Delivery System, consistent approach for providing services to children at all agencies is created to increase Big Brothers Big Sisters? ability to offer quality services to greater numbers of youth
2003 President George W. Bush announces three-year $450 million mentoring initiative in his State of the Union Address
2004 Founding agency Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City celebrates centennial anniversary.
2006 First LadyLaura Bush stars in a public service announcement to recruit volunteers across the nation
2007 Glamour Reel Moments is donating $1 each time someone downloads the title track (Up to $10,000)[6]
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