Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Connecticut

Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. For more than 100 years,Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Most children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters are in single-parent and low-income families or households where a parent is inca

rcerated. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles"). Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a system of ongoing evaluation and support which is proven by independent studies too help families by improving te odds that "Littles" will perform better in school and avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships with their parents and others. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Connecticut is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America,an organization founded in 1904, with nearly 400 member agencies serving all fifty states. This agency is the result of a 1993 merger between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County and Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Connecticut. Presently nearly 400 children are receiving the life-altering benefits of being matched in a mentoring friendship - better grades, improved relationships with family and peers – in short, a brighter future. To make a positive difference in the lives of children and youths, primarily through a professionally supported, one-to-one relationship with a caring adult. The agency assists its clients in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become more confident, competent and caring individuals by providing them with committed, screened, trained and supervised volunteer mentors. A Big Sister may be her Little Sister's role model. In all relationships, the "Big" is the "Little's" friend.