We match a Big Brother with a Little Brother taking care to ensure they have similar interests. Matches spend one-to-one time together doing things that friends do… like talking, playing ball in the park, watching a movie or just hanging out. You don’t have to change your life to become a Big Brother… having a Little Brother just means you have someone else to share your life.
It's easy to get involved
FAQs
What is the basic commitment of a Big Brother?
Big Brothers are asked to make a commitment for a minimum of 12 months. Developing a friendship with a child and creating a positive influence takes time. We strongly believe that the success of the friendship between a "Big" and a "Little" depends more on regular and consistent contact and the enjoyment of the activities together, than on the length of each visit. While any amount of time that a Big Brother contributes to a child's life is beneficial, we encourage an average of 2-4 hours a week as a guideline.
How do I apply to become a Big Brother?
There are several ways to apply to become a Big:
Is there an age limit for Big Brothers?
The minimum age for Big Brothers is 18. There is no maximum age limit, as long as the volunteer is in good general health and is physically active.
Who are the Little Brothers?
Children in our programs range in age from 6 - 18 years. Each child is unique, responsive, and has a need for a consistent, positive role model. As we are a volunteer service, our program is friendship based and is not designed as a form of intervention for serious individual or family problems.
Are Big Brothers expected to help with family issues?
A Big Brother’s primary responsibility is to spend time with his Little Brother, and is discouraged from getting involved in family dynamics. Agency support ensures that clear boundaries are maintained.
Is there a cost involved in being a Big Brother?
Some incidental costs may be incurred while on outings with your "Little"; however, we encourage all participants to be creative about finding low or no cost activities to do together. We plan some special events for our volunteers and Littles that everyone is encouraged to attend at no cost to them. These events may include holiday parties, picnics, sporting events, water parks, etc.
What do the kids like to do?
While interests vary, most kids like to participate in out-door activities, like going for walks, swimming, mountain biking, and roller blading. They also enjoy movies, video games and going to sports games. Many of our Little Brothers enjoy sports while others prefer art, working on building models, Lego, music, and computers.
The focus of the program is to spend quality time together. It’s not always necessary to do exciting activities, or spend money.
Does the agency stay involved once the match is made?
Yes. We provide ongoing support and monitoring. Our caseworkers are available to deal with any questions or concerns that come up. Regular phone contact with all parties is an expectation of the program as are regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the progress of the match.