HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region partners with individual donors, foundations, corporations, governments, and others to build the critical network of support that funds and enables the work of carefully matching children with caring adult mentors and providing ongoing support to the child, volunteer mentor and child’s family.
Professionally trained Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members work with our partners in the education and juvenile justice communities to find children facing adversity and assess how our programs can have the greatest impact. Big Brothers Big Sisters targets the children who need us most, including those living in single parent homes, growing up in poverty and coping with parental incarceration.
HOW A BIG BECOMES A BIG—AND A LITTLE, A LITTLE.
Before we make a match, we do our homework. After someone expresses an interest in becoming a Big, they go through a background check and careful interview process. Then we match Bigs and Littles based on location, personalities and preferences. And we provide full support from the start, so matches can grow into lasting, impactful friendships. The entire matching process is made possible through donations—we can’t do what we do best without them!
WHAT ARE A BIG AND LITTLE TO DO?
Each match is unique. Getting together doesn’t require a special occasion or expensive activity—just a few hours every month doing things the Little and Big already enjoy. For example:
- Playing catch
- Reading books
- Going to a museum
- Providing advice and inspiration
Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends. Some meet them in school over lunch, others get together with their Littles in the evenings. Each match develops a schedule that works for them.