BIG BROTHERS-BIG SISTERS
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : d******e@b*****************s.o*g
Mission Statement
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County's mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Our vision is that all children achieve success in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County has provided one-to-one mentoring services to youth since the agency's inception in 1967.
About This Cause
When children and teens have the influence of a caring adult, they are more likely to avoid risky behaviors and to focus on academics. Today's youth face a variety of challenges, and being matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister can help them navigate these challenges and reach their potential. Researchers found that after 18 months of spending time with their Bigs, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters, compared to those children not in our program, were more confident of their performance in schoolwork and getting along better with their families. According to the study, Big Brothers Big Sisters programs were found to “focus less on specific problems after they occur, and more on meeting youths’ most basic developmental needs.” The matches that were observed shared everyday activities: eating out, playing sports or attending sports events, going to movies, sightseeing, and just hanging out together. But what mattered to the children were not the activities. It was the fact that they had a caring adult in their lives. Because they had someone to confide in and to look up to, they were, in turn, doing better in school and at home. And at a time in their lives when even small choices can change the course of their future, the Littles were also avoiding violence and substance abuse. In addition to the lives of Littles' being changed for the better, the impact is contagious. "When Little Brothers and Little Sisters feel good about themselves," said Mathis, "they can positively impact their friends and families, their schools, and their communities. And as this important study has shown, these young people believe in themselves because a Big Brother or Big Sister believed in them.” Public/Private Ventures, a national research organization with more than 30 years of experience in studying child development and social service issues, conducted the independent research. The study was funded by the Lilly Endowment, the Commonwealth Fund, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and an anonymous donor.