Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Westchester County Inc

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY IS A YOUTH MENTORING ORGANIZATION SERVING CHILDREN, AGES 7 TO 17, WHO LIVE IN NEW YORKS WESTCHESTER AND PUTNAM COUNTIES. THE MISSION IS TO HELP ALL CHILDREN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY DOES THIS BY PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FACE ADVERSITY WITH PROFESSIONALLY SUPPORTED ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOR THE BETTER, FOREVER. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY OPERATES UNDER A BIG/LITTLE MODEL WHICH MATCHES ADULT VOLUNTEERS (OUR BIGS) WITH CHILDREN AGES 7 - 17 (OUR LITTLES). THE MEANINGFUL AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS CREATED HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR LITTLES LIVES BY KEEPING THEM IN SCHOOL AND AWAY FROM VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

BIG FUTURES - THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION'S COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL LITTLES. AS LITTLES ENTER HIGH SCHOOL, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS INTENSIVELY WITH THEM TO SET REALISTIC GOALS AND GUIDE THEM IN CREATING EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER PATHS TOWARD ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS. RISING HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS AND SENIORS PARTICIPATE IN OUR SIX-WEEK BBBS SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THE INTERNS WORK WITH TRAINED PROGRAM LEADERS, COLLABORATE WITH STAFF TO COMPLETE SPECIAL PROJECTS AROUND THE OFFICE, MEET RETURNING COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE ALUMNI OF THE PROGRAM, AND LEARN FROM COMPANY AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.

COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING - THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION'S TRADITIONAL ONE-TO- ONE MENTORING PROGRAM WHERE THEY MATCH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 7 AND 17 (OUR LITTLES) WITH ADULT ROLE MODELS, AGES 21 OR OLDER (OUR BIGS). COMMUNITY MATCHES SPEND TIME TOGETHER DURING AT LEAST 2 OUTINGS EACH MONTH (ABOUT 4-6 HOURS TOTAL), ENJOYING LOW- OR NO-COST ACTIVITIES. THESE LONG AND STRONG MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS PROVIDE MENTEES WITH A SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP THEM SET GOALS, DEVELOP RESILIENCE, BROADEN THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES AND DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO TRIUMPH OVER THE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC CHALLENGES THEY FACE.

SITE-BASED MENTORING - IN THIS PROGRAM, HELD AT SCHOOL LOCATIONS IN PORT CHESTER AND YONKERS, THE MATCHES SPEND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER AFTER SCHOOL. THE LITTLES ENJOY STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR BIGS, INCLUDING HOMEWORK HELP, ART PROJECTS, GAMES, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND ONE-ON-ONE QUALITY TIME. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS THE MATCHES TO FOSTER MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS IN A COMFORTABLE AND PROFESSIONAL SETTING.

VIRTUAL TUTOR - SINCE VIRTUAL CLASSES AND HOMEWORK WERE A STRUGGLE FOR MANY OF THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE A VIRTUAL TUTOR TO SPEND ONE TO TWO HOURS A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR HELPING A CHILD WITH HIS OR HER STUDIES AND HOMEWORK. WAITLIST AND OTHER - MANY OF THE LITTLES (ESPECIALLY THE BOYS) MUST SPEND TIME ON OUR WAITLIST WHILE THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO MATCH THEM WITH THEIR PERFECT BIGS. THIS PROGRAM PLANS MONTHLY GROUP EVENTS ESPECIALLY FOR THESE CHILDREN, SUCH AS BINGO, BOWLING, TABLE TENNIS, ETC.