About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Our Mission

Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships and provide programming that ignites the power and promise of youth.

Vision

To empower our future leaders one match at a time.

Accountability

By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers, and others in the community, we are accountable for each child in our program achieving:

Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships
Avoidance of risky behaviors
Educational success

Our History

We are a non-profit agency positively impacting children’s lives in Lucas and Wood counties. Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs were operated independently in Toledo from 1937 to 1961. By January 1980, the programs had merged to become Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio. Our agency provides service consistent with the standards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

We are financially supported, in part, by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, the United Way of Greater Toledo, Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, the City of Toledo, and by corporate sponsorship, private donations and fundraising events.

Our Staff

We have professionally trained staff who carefully matches qualified volunteer mentors with children in long-term mentoring relationships. The staff also provides on-going support to those matches and their families to help children stay in school and succeed.