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TODAY
BECOME A BIG
Our mission is the same as it’s always been, but the need is more urgent than ever. We exist in order to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
We are looking for adults who want to positively impact the life of a young person through friendship and make a difference in our community. Mentoring does not require some special skill or magical talent. Youth need a positive adult in their life and someone who is willing to provide simple experiences that mean something special to their Little.
Your Little awaits!
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PROGRAM OPTIONS
Many relationships between Bigs and Littles begin in our Community-Based programs. These mentoring relationships involve one-on-one outings and activities. Whether Bigs and Littles meet on the weekends for a morning coffee or on the weekday afternoons to help with homework, every match is unique and special.
We have many Site-Based Mentoring Programs, adapting to your schedule and creating an environment of fun, confidence-building, and memory-making. During the school year, our Littles are excited to visit with their Bigs at their workplace or school.
Big Brothers Big Sisters often provides an activity to get a match started building new skills and creating life-long memories!Sometimes, the best place to help a child realize their potential is at school! Bigs in School is a flexible opportunity for mentors to visit their Little at school, whether it's in the school library or on the playground.
While families know what a positive impact having a mentor makes, teachers are some of the biggest supporters of this program! They see first-hand how a Little returns to class with a smile and new-found confidence!
STEP 1
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION & PHONE ORIENTATION
STEP 2
VOLUNTEER INTERVIEW
STEP 3
PROCESSING & TRAINING
STEP 4
MATCH RECOMMENDATION
STEP 5
MAKING THE MATH & BEYOND!
ENROLLING
TO BECOME A BIG
The enrollment process to become a Big takes about one to two months. We know you are excited and ready to be matched. Big Brothers Big Sisters has high safety standards and wants to make sure we are designing the best possible match for you. Here are the 5 steps to your enrollment process:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There is no magical talent or perfect degree that makes you the right Big for a youth in our community. Anyone who wants to make an impact is the right kind of mentor!
These are the requirements we look for when you're applying to become a Big:-
All applicants must pass our background checks.
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All applicants must reside in our service area: Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, or Waupaca counties.
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For Community-Based applicants, you must be at least 18 years old and have reliable transportation with car insurance.
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For Bigs in School applicants, you must be at least 18 years old and available to meet weekly during the lunch time. As the school year is only 9 months long, we aim to keep matches together for at least two years.
Relationships are most impactful when they last beyond one year, ensuring a Little continues to grow even outside of the school year.
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Littles are youth in our community that have been waiting to be matched with a mentor just like you. They are excited (and a little nervous) for their friendship with you, but their parents/guardians want the best for their children and believe in the power of mentorship.
Littles in Big Brothers Big Sisters are between the ages of 6 to 17, coming from a wide range of backgrounds and have a plethora of different interests. Some youth have two parents, while others may have a single guardian; some Littles experience poverty, some have many siblings or none at all.
You are not just matched with the next waiting Little; we take pride in making thoughtful match selections based on your experiences and interests. During your interview, we'll get to know you and what your goals are for this experience.
For Community-Based matches, we ask that you meet with your Little 2 - 4 times per month. This might look like playing a board game once a week, or taking a bike ride a couple Saturday's a month.
For Bigs in School matches, you will meet with your Little at their school weekly during their lunch and recess. Because of the school year, you do not meet with your Little during the summer.
Site-Based matches meet about twice a month and do not meet during the summer.
Some favorite activities include going to parks, fishing, cooking, visiting the library, playing sports, cheering on a local team, and trying a new board game. Every activity allows you to talk to your Little and get to know one another!
We also encourage that you bring your Little to do things you normally do, allowing them to see what your life is like and help them feel included in it.
After 3 months in your match and a home assessment by your Program Coordinator, you can plan activities at your home.
Of course! This is called a "Big Duo", where a pair of adults choose to mentor one Little together. This can look like spouses or partners, best friends, family members, and so on!
Each volunteer will go through the application process separately and matched together. In a Big Duo, the two mentors and their Little can have outings together or they can split their activities, one at a time.
Once you get matched, you'll be assigned a Program Coordinator, a member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters staff. Two weeks after you meet your Little, your Program Coordinator will begin checking in with you to discuss what you've been doing, some goals you'd like to meet, or any challenges you're experiencing. Your Program Coordinator is the person that can help you through it all, even providing activities and additional learning opportunities to help you grow as a Big. We are always here for you!
We stress low-cost activities. Being a mentor is not about spending money, instead, it's about creating quality moments. As a Big, you'll also receive information about our community partners that offer discounts or free tickets. Each month, Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts a match activity to help you network with other matches or find a new hobby.
You can keep tabs on our social media pages! We are on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn as Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Wisconsin. As a Big, you'll also get access to a special newsletter filled with activities, news, and fun stuff.
If you want your own community to learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, we are more than happy to present to your workplace, faith community, professional group, or school district.
If you're interested in scheduling a presentation, contact Jill Grambow at JGrambow@bbbsecw.org or 920-383-4904!