What will you do?
 

Are you ready to positively impact a child for the better, forever?

Start Something.
Big Brothers Big Sisters signature fundraiser will be held in April at Pin Setter Lanes in Aurora and Super Bowl in Grand Island.

Learn More.

Anything is possible.

 
81% of former Littles surveyed agree their Big gave them hope & changed their perspective of what they thought possible.

Our programs get things started.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grand Island targets the children who need us most, including those living in single parent homes, growing up in poverty and coping with parental incarceration. Starting something begins with finding a great match between a Big and Little. Making these matches and performing all background work involved with them is possible because of donations from people like you.  It's also why we're able to offer such a variety of programs that pair children, ages 6 through 18, with role models in one-to-one relationships.

We offer two core types of donor-funded programs: Community-Based and School-Based Mentoring.  And no matter when a child enters a program, there's no limit to where he or she can go.
Community Based Mentoring

Speding time together out in the local community is primarily how Bigs and Littles develop their relationship.  After all, to change a child's perspective of the world, it
helps to spend some time out in it. 

Many relationships between Bigs and Littles fall under our Community-Based Mentoring.  These are one-to-one outings and activities, doing things they enjoy together, like:

    1.  Taking a walk in a park
    2.  Going to a museum
    3.  Inspiring each other 
    4.  Listening to music
    5.  Reading books 
    6.  Fishing
    7.  Baking cookies
    8.  Skating   
    9.  Attending a football game
    10. Providing advice

Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends while others get together with their Littles in the evenings. Each match is unique and develops a schedule that works for them. To learn more about this program please contact Match Specialist, Tara Purdie at (308) 384-3456 or tarap@bbbsgi.org.

School Based Mentoring
It may sound obvious, but sometimes the best place to help a child reach their potential is at school.  Kids enjoy having their Bigs meet with them there, whether it's in the classroom or on the playground.  And parents know what a positive impact it makes.

Although it takes place at schools, our School-Based Mentoring isn't limited to the classroom.  Of course, some Littles do talk with their Bigs about class, or do homework, or read together, but it's perfectly fine to shoot hoops in the gym or play on the playground.  At the end of the day, it's really all about starting a friendship, providing guidance, and inspiring them to reach their potential.  To learn more about this program please contact Match Specialist Shawna Ewoldt at (308) 384-3456 or shawna@bbbsgi.org.
Mom2Mom Mentoring

Parenting is a difficult task.  Add with it attending school, homework, pressures of a teen life and the process of planning your future to the mix and it makes for an extremely difficult, even negative, experience. This program exsists to provide one-to-one relationships between pregnant/young parents (20 years of age and under) and "experienced" parents.  The mentor's goal is to encourage the teen to continue their high school education, exploring opportunities after high school, educate the teen on life skills and parenting. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grand Island staff offers learning sessions on a regular basis to educate the match on issues that the participants indicate are important in their lives.  To learn more about this program please contact Program Coordinator, Shawna Ewoldt at (308) 384-3456 or shawna@bbbsgi.org.

School Based Plus Mentor

Similar to our School-Based Mentoring program, our SBP mentors meet with a student in a community school.  The mentors meet with their Little for 40 to 60 minutes a week, typically during the Little's lunch or recess period.  All Bigs in this program are aged 18 or older and complete full background checks.  This enables the match to meet out in the community (if they choose to) during the summer.  For more information on this program please contact Match Specialist, Shawna Ewoldt at
(308) 384-3456 or shawna@bbbsgi.org.

Something for everyone

Children come from all walks of life.  So, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to making an impact on them.

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