Be a Big

• Community-Based: Bigs & Littles get together at least once a month for a year, spending a few hours together doing normal, everyday activities, like seeing a movie, doing homework, playing games, going out to eat, or just hanging out! 
• Sports buddies: Similar to our Community-Based mentorship, matches get together at least once a month for six months. Most matches join one or both of our free, sports-related activities offered each month. 
• School-Based: Bigs join their Little at their elementary school twice a month for lunch & recess, spending time working on homework, crafting, drawing, playing outside, or just spending time together! Bigs are encouraged to stay connected with their Little through the summer months via Zoom or writing letters.

 Once you are matched with your Little, your Match Support Specialist will be in regular contact with you to provide assistance and give feedback. Anytime you are unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, you will have your Match Support Specialist there to help. They’ll help you with ideas for activities, guidance for handling possible difficult situations and feedback on how you are making a difference. 

BBBS only enrolls children who want and need the program and whose parents specifically want them to be in the program, so 100% of the children enrolled are ready and excited about being matched. 

Parents that enroll their children in the BBBS program want the very best for their children. They see the benefits of introducing another caring, adult, role model in the life of their child. Many say that their children’s Bigs are able to talk to them about difficult issues and can provide support in areas the parent/guardian aren't able to. That is why parents often say introducing a Big into their child’s life has not only changed their son/daughter’s life, but it’s impacted the entire family. 

This is what is really unique and great about BBBS. We don’t just select the next child on our list and match them with a Big. Each Big and Little are matched based on compatibility and proximity to each other. Match Support Specialists get to know each Big, guardian, and child that enrolls in the program. They get to know their interests, hobbies, what they are looking for in a Match and much more. This is crucial because once a volunteer is accepted into the program a Match Support Specialist will begin searching for a few Littles that they think would make a good match. They will then connect with you to discuss potential Littles and from there you ultimately decide which child you think would be the best fit to be your Little. 

Anything you and your Little would like. Activities are up to each Match to schedule and participate in on their own time. You don’t have to spend money; it’s about the time. Common activities include going to get ice cream or going to a movie, playing catch or a video game, attending a sporting event or concert, hanging out at home and making dinner or running errands, attending a free event at the library, NewBo, or one of our local museums. We encourage Bigs to share time instead of trying to create new time. Bring your Little on activities you were already going to do. Keep it simple and focus on getting to know each other. BBBS also hosts great match activities and parties that all Bigs/Littles are invited to. Our Bigs are also occasionally given free tickets to events that Match Support Specialists are able to distribute to matches. 

Yes, your orientation will serve as an in-person training and will walk you through situational scenarios to help prepare you for your match. In addition, your Match Support Specialist will be there every step of the way to offer customized support as your match progresses. We also partner with several organizations that provide workshops and trainings that are beneficial to all parties. 

Big Brothers are always matched to Little Brothers. Big Sisters can be matched to Little Sisters or Little Brothers. Big Couples or Big Families are matched with Little Brothers. 

A Big Couple is a pair of Bigs who are in a long-term relationship/friendship and want to be matched together to the same Little. Big Couples do not have to be married, but must be in a long-term relationship/friendship. A Big Family is a family that wants to be matched as a family with one Little. These options are great opportunities for couples or families that would prefer a shared experience as opposed to each of them having their own Little. We want our Bigs to integrate their Little into their lives and this often means your Little spending a lot of time with your family and friends. The benefit of a Big Couple and a Big Family is both adult Bigs have the option of going out one-on-one with their Little OR the whole group can go on outings together. Our Big Couples and Big Families love the flexibility this gives their Match. 

We do everything in our power to make a Match that we think will last. However, we realize that sometimes things come up, Bigs or Littles move, situations change or something doesn’t work out. We will attempt to mediate the situation, but if it doesn’t work out, we will end the match. If this happens, your Match Support Specialist will be there to support you every step of the way and handle it in the best way possible. 

We ask for a minimum commitment of one year for each match we make (Sports Buddies: 6 months). 

Matches can remain active through elementary, middle and high school. Many of our friendships end up lasting a lifetime. 

The quality of time invested 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 them see the world through a different lens so you can inspire them 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. Shoot hoops at a local park, play a game together or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. Our staff will 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. 

We require volunteers in our School Based Mentoring program (Lunch Buddies) to be at least 16 years old. 

Volunteers in our Community Based Programming must be at least 21 years old and have a valid Driver's License.

To become a Big at Big Brothers Big Sisters, you need to meet a few specific qualifications. For our School-Based Mentoring Program (Lunch Buddies), you must be at least 16 years old. For our Community-Based Program, you need to be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver's license with a good driving record. Community-Based Bigs must provide transportation for both themselves and their Little, while Bigs in the Site-Based Program need only arrange transportation for themselves. Our highest priority is the safety of the children we serve, which means certain crimes automatically disqualify someone from becoming a Big. However, we evaluate each individual on a case-by-case basis. If you have a criminal history and are interested in becoming a Big, please contact us to discuss your eligibility privately.

Aside from these specific requirements, Bigs are regular people, just like you! You don't need special degrees or job skills, just the desire to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit! Being a Big is about being a friend. Even if you don't have much experience around children, you already have the skills to be a Big just by being you. All of our Bigs go through volunteer training and have the support of a BBBS Match Support Specialist, who provides ideas, support, and coaching throughout the life of the match.