Our Programs
Our service area includes Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy and Marion Counties.
Bigs Inspiring Scholastic Success
The Bigs Inspiring Scholastic Success (BISS) Program is a program that provides long-term, one-to-one mentoring to children who have been identified as at-risk for unsuccessful school performance due to a lack of asset development in academics, behavior, or study skills. Mentoring takes place in the school setting and focuses on classroom-related skills and assets. Volunteer mentors strengthen academic skills, encourage conflict resolution and positive interpersonal skills, teach effective study skills, nourish self-confidence, and foster an appreciation for goal setting. There is a minimum of a one (1) academic year commitment between and mentor and a child.
Community-Based Mentoring
The Community-Based Mentoring (CBM) Program provides long-term, one-to-one mentoring to children who need and want a mentor. This program operates during non-school hours, and the mentors typically spend time with the children on the weekends or weeknights. These volunteers make a one-year commitment to spend six hours per month with the child and build a relationship, which increases the opportunity for positive social involvement, bonding to positive adults, and the development of healthy beliefs and clear standards. Through the personal guidance of a positive role model and the close supervision of professional staff, children are encouraged to focus on their strengths and build from there. The program’s purpose is to build confidence and character in children so they can develop into empowered adults who have the resilience and strength to make positive life choices.
Couples Mentoring
The Couples Mentoring (CM) Program provides an opportunity for couples to give long-term, one-to-one mentoring to children, ideally siblings in the same family, who need and want a mentor. This program can operate through the Bigs in Schools and Sites Program, the Community Based Mentoring Program, or through the Sports Buddies Program. Please see those program description for more details.
The Grand Program
The Grand Program (GP) provides an opportunity for grandparents and retirees to give long-term, one-to-one mentoring to children who need and want a mentor. This program can operate through the Bigs in Schools and Sites Program, the Community Based Mentoring Program, or through the Sports Buddies Program. Please see those program description for more details.
Mentoring Children of Promise
The Mentoring Children of Promise (MCOP) Program provides children of incarcerated parents with long-term, one-to-one mentoring. This program can operate through the Bigs in Schools and Sites Program, the Community Based Mentoring Program, or the Sports Buddies Program. Please see these program descriptions for more details.
Sports Buddies
The Sports Buddies (SB) Program provides long-term, one-to-one mentoring to children who need and want a mentor, particularly one who enjoys being active! A mentor and child hang out at least twice each month playing sports or attending sporting events. Through this program, mentors model good sportsmanship, teach life skills, and build solid friendships on the court or in the field. There is a minimum of a one (1) academic year commitment between a mentor and a child.
Other programs include:
Big Little Pen Pals
BBBS is recruiting volunteers who want to make a difference beyond our borders and support children across the oceans. We are starting a series of pen pal programs across the globe to match Bigs and Littles as pen pals. Our current pen pal programs include:
Pen Pals for Haiti–In partnership with Caribbean People’s Relief, Bigs are matched as pen pals with the orphans of Montrouis, Haiti. Letters are exchanged monthly and outgoing letters are translated from English into Creole and/or French by volunteers in the community. If they choose, Bigs will have the opportunity to travel with Caribbean People’s Relief at least once a year to visit with their Littles!