Our Vision:

Successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, stronger schools, and better communities for all

Our Mission:

To assist children and youth achieve their highest potential by providing quality mentoring relationships

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the nation's preeminent youth-service organization. With a century of experience in matching volunteer Bigs with children, we know how it works. Big Brothers and Big Sisters are, most importantly, friends to children. They share everyday activities, expand horizons, and help their Littles to experience the joy in even the simplest events. Within these little moments lies the big magic of the relationship between a Big Brother or Big Sister and their Little.

• Numerous independent research studies show that Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring has a significant and measurable positive impact on the lives of youth. Children matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister are less likely to take illegal drugs, start drinking, skip school, and exhibit violent behavior.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring is classified as a “Blueprint” program by the University of Colorado: as such, it is one of 11 model intervention programs (out of 600 programs reviewed) that was shown to be effective in reducing adolescent violent crime, aggression, delinquency, and substance abuse.

• Since1982, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County has served over 3,000 children through its mentoring programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters served over 150 youth in Santa Cruz County in 2006.

Our Mentoring Programs

Community-Based Mentoring: One to One Match Program. Carefully screened adult volunteer Big Brothers and Big Sisters are matched one-to-one with a Little, age 7-14, providing friendship and appropriate guidance. Mentors spend 3 to 5 hours a week having fun with their Littles.

Site-Based Mentoring: After-School Mentoring and Enrichment Program. Volunteers spend two hours per week with a group of children with our two After School Programs in the Watsonville area. Children, age 7-14, spend one hour with academics and one hour with educational or recreational activities.