BBBS of Elkhart County

Mission Statement

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. This mission has been the cornerstone of the organization's 100-year history.
As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, BBBS holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes such as educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors and better relationships. National research has shown that positive relationships between youth ("Littles") and their mentors ("Bigs") have a direct and measurable impact on their children's lives. Little Brothers and Sisters are: more confident in their schoolwork performance; able to get along better with their families; 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs; 27% less likely to begin using alcohol; and 52% less likely to skip school.
Before being matched, community-based mentors undergo thorough screening, background checks and training to ensure the safety of the child. After the mentor has been accepted into the program, the Big and the Little are carefully matched based on location, personalities, and preferences to ensure that the match has the best possible chance of growing into a lasting friendship. Additionally, BBBS professional mentoring staff have ongoing and regular communication with volunteers and parents to support the mentoring relationship throughout the duration of the match. Mentors can volunteer as Big Brothers, Big Sisters Big Couples or Big Family.