WHO WE ARE

In 1902 the ladies of charity founded the nationwide Big Sister movement by pioneering a program for vulnerable girls and families involved in the New York Children’s Court. Now serving both boys and girls, Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring has been critical in uniting NYC communities and uplifting children and families across the city for over 120 years.

MISSION

Founded in 1902, Bigs & Littles NYC Mentoring strives to transform the lives of children through one-to-one mentoring, while strengthening entire families in hardship.

VISION

A city in which all young people are empowered to recognize, reach for and achieve their full potential.

DEMOGRAPHICS

OUR PROGRAMS

Community-Based Mentoring

Caring Through COVID Initiative: Building on 120 years of expertise in one-to-one mentoring and strengthening entire families and a long history of addressing bereavement, the Caring Through COVID Mentoring Program matches young people who have lost loved ones due to the pandemic, and Asian American youth coping with rising bias attacks, hate crimes and bullying due to COVID-19, providing the additional support of a caring volunteer mentor and professional staff seasoned in relationship building, crisis counseling and comprehensive family strengthening services. Our priority is to offer a vital sense of continuity, community and comfort. It has been reported that nearly 4,200 children in New York State have lost a parent or caregiver; 57% of these children live in the Bronx, Brooklyn, or Queens, and numbers are highest among Black and Hispanic children. Anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 150% mostly in New York & Los Angeles. Losing a parent or caregiver during childhood raises a child’s risk of developing a range of poor outcomes over their lifetime, including poorer mental and physical health. 

Newcomers Initiative: Building upon New York City’s standing as the most diverse city in the nation, we formally launched our Newcomers Initiative in 2018, deepening our services for immigrant children and families who come to our doors for help. Our newcomers are often navigating a new home, a new culture, a new language, and new morays—all of which, compounded with poverty, increase their anxiety. This initiative also responds to the unique challenges of our times, which include the rise in hate crimes and bullying that is impacting so many immigrant communities. Recognizing that such experiences can be especially traumatic for children, the support that comes from connecting with a caring adult mentor cannot be underestimated. Through our thoughtful pairing and guidance of mentoring matches, Bigs & Littles NYC breaks down stereotypes and barriers by fostering relationships between adults and youth of different backgrounds, and proactively strengthens our community, celebrating both commonalities and differences and promoting intercultural harmony.

Foster Care Prevention Initiative: Bigs & Littles NYC builds trust and a safe space for our children and families, who have often experienced difficult traumas and family separation. In 2015, we launched our Foster Care Prevention Program which provides a caring adult mentor and other supportive services to youth in the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) preventive care system to help them avoid foster care placement, for which support services for families is vital. By mobilizing volunteer mentors to be a stable presence in our youth’s lives, we have strengthened New York City families of all make-ups and configurations.

Site-Based Mentoring

World of Work Program (W.O.W.): Our site-based, one-to-one, group mentoring program pairs employees at New York City corporations with students from nearby high-needs schools, leading them through college and career readiness with a curriculum that develops 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking. W.O.W. programming includes three community outings per year—career related, academic related and recreational. A W.O.W. priority is to introduce youth to as many different people and roles at a partnering corporation as possible. While a cohort of employees meets with their mentees twice a month, the program includes shadow days during which students would get to interact with another employee at the business and learn more about their experience and how they contribute to the corporation. W.O.W programs culminate each year in a group project, the focus of which is tailored to match the interests and expertise of the youth and mentors. Benefits to companies include boosts in staff morale, improved public image and community good will. Bigs & Littles NYC takes care of all aspects of the program on site allowing employees to volunteer without impacting their personal schedules, and gives employees the valuable experience of giving back to the community in which they work. In 2017, Good Apple became the pioneer Corporate Partner launching our first W.O.W. Program. In 2021, JP Morgan partnered with Bigs & Littles NYC to launch our second W.O.W. program.

Family Support

Mentoring Moms and Dads Program: At Bigs & Littles NYC, we know that a child is only as healthy as his or her family. This groundbreaking program is the first of its kind, offering both a mentor to the child and to the mother/father simultaneously, ultimately strengthening youth and family outcomes. Matches meet independently within the community, participating in a professionally guided 1:1 relationship. Single moms and dads are matched with their own caring mentors–who provide a listening ear, friendship, and support as moms navigate through parenthood and work together toward personal, career and relationship goal achievement.

Life Skills & College Bound Initiative

Nearly all of the youth we serve will be the first in their families to go to college. Bigs & Littles NYC believes that college preparation should begin with Littles as young as seven years old when they join the program, and we immerse youth of all ages and their parents in a college going culture, focusing on concrete steps to ensure post-secondary access and success. As Littles approach college entry, we support our graduating seniors to successfully adjust and complete their critical first year of college or vocational training program, ensuring persistence. Our targeted support helps each participant successfully navigate these challenging transitional years, with special attention paid to preparing youth to advocate for themselves. Additionally, youth are offered opportunities for financial assistance through the The Ingrid Kelly Memorial Scholarship Fund.