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 A
Record of Success!
For more than 90 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
has been the preeminent national youth-serving organization, based on
a One-To-One® relationship between an adult volunteer and a child
at risk. Volunteers serving as mentors and role models help youth to increase
their self-confidence, reach their highest potential, and to see themselves,
often for the first time, as having happy and successful futures.
To learn more about how Big Brothers Big Sisters relationships
help children, check out the BBBSA
Impact Study.
A study funded by UPS supports the Big Brothers Big Sisters
School Mentoring Program. Click here
to view the UPS study in a PDF format. If you need the Adobe Acrobat
PDF Reader, please click
here for a free download.
What is Big Brothers and Sisters?
The Big Brothers and Sisters concept is simple, match the child with
a mature and responsible adult who can provide guidance, understanding,
and encouragement.
Who does the Agency serve?
Big Brothers and Sisters of Summit and Medina Counties serve boys and
girls, 7 through 15 years of age, who live in single-parent homes. The
agency's service area includes Summit and Medina Counties. Once in our
program, Little Brother/Little Sister may remain active until their
18th birthday.
Why is the Big Brother/Sister program unique among children's service
agencies?
The Big Brother/Sister program deals with each child as an individual.
It places emphasis upon the importance of developing a one-to-one relationship.
It is one of few social service agencies that use the volunteer so completely
as a member of the "Helping Team."
What are the basic requirements for participation in the program?
A. The Age Requirement: Potential volunteers must be 18 years
of age or older.
B. Transportation and Car Insurance: All volunteers must have
transportation and be able to show that they have car insurance.
C. Time Commitment: The volunteer must agree to spend a minimum
of 4 hours a week with the child and is asked to make a one year
(minimum) commitment to the program.
What characteristics/attributes do we look for in a volunteer?
We look for maturity, stability, good character, interest, and commitment.
The volunteer need not have any particular level of education. The volunteer
need not have prior experience in working with children, though sometimes
this can be helpful.
What kinds of things do matches do?
The volunteer need not spend large amounts of money. Simple activities
can "fill the bill." Raking leaves, visiting a museum, window
shopping, sewing, fishing, going to a ball game. These are all activities
that allow a child the opportunity that he/she needs most, the opportunity
to talk.
How great is the need for Volunteers?
At present, there are over 200 children on the waiting list, of this
amount 90% of them are boys. Some children have been waiting over a
year, hoping to find a "special friend." There is a particular
need for Big Brother Volunteers.
When did the program begin?
Locally, our program began in 1972. At first, it was called Big Brothers
of Akron. In 1975, the program expanded to include women and girls.
At that time, it took the name, Big Brothers and Sisters of Greater
Akron, Inc. In 1995, our agency expanded into Medina County and we changed
our name to Big Brothers and Sisters of Summit and Medina Counties.
Two national organizations began around the turn of the century. Big
Brother of America was founded in Cincinnati in 1903. Big Sisters International
was founded in New York in 1908. The two national organizations merged
in June of 1977.
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