Celebrating 50 Years of Mentorship

For 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey has connected young people with caring mentors, strengthening lives and communities across our state.

This milestone is more than a celebration of time. It is an opportunity to reflect on the moments, relationships, and people who shaped our journey, and to look ahead at what’s still possible.

To honor our 50th anniversary, we are launching 50 Stories for 50 Years a year-long series highlighting the history, impact, and individuals behind our mission. Some stories will take us back to where it all began. Others will spotlight the mentors, youth, families, and partners who continue to carry this work forward today.

Each story is different. All are grounded in mentorship.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming months, we will share stories from our history, from early milestones to present-day Big and Little matches whose experiences reflect the power of consistent support.

The need for mentorship has never been greater. As we celebrate the past 50 years, we remain focused on expanding opportunities for young people and strengthening the communities they call home.

We invite you to follow along as each new story is shared, and to consider how you might be part of the next chapter.

For our first story, we’re going back to where it all began. To understand where we’re going, we have to remember where we started.

Where It All Began

Before there were offices, staff, fundraising events, or anniversaries, there was a single relationship that started it all. One-on-one mentorship has changed thousands of lives for more than a century, and for the past 50 years, it has shaped communities across New Jersey through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey. This milestone is more than a celebration of time. It is a reflection on relationships built, trust earned, and a legacy defined by showing up.

The birth of our national organization began in 1904, when a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter noticed an alarming number of boys appearing in court without strong adult advocates. Recognizing the difference a caring adult could make, he recruited volunteers to spend time with them, launching the Big Brothers movement. At the same time, the Ladies of Charity were mentoring young girls through what became Catholic Big Sisters. After decades of impact, the groups united in 1977 to officially form Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, creating a streamlined mission and a model capable of growing in communities across the country.

That model found its way to New Jersey in 1976, when Curtis Colby began mentoring a young boy named Joey. Seeing the immediate and lasting impact of that match, he sought to share the opportunity with others, planting the seeds for what would become a vital community institution. What began with one mentor and one young person grew into an organization rooted in connection and community.

“For 50 years, our work has been rooted in the belief that when young people are supported, entire communities are strengthened,” shared Executive Director William Salcedo.

As demand grew, so did the organization. The agency expanded into Middlesex County in 2011 and, by 2020, broadened its reach to serve 10 counties as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey. Through every stage of growth, the mission remained consistent: provide young people with the steady presence of a caring mentor.

“For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has shown what’s possible when a young person knows someone is consistently in their corner,” Salcedo reflected. “The strength of this organization lies in its simplicity: one caring adult, one meaningful relationship, and the life-changing impact that follows.”

A 50-year legacy is not built overnight; it is built one relationship at a time. Made possible by volunteers, donors, families, and community partners, this milestone is both a celebration and a call forward. The need for mentorship has never been greater. By becoming a mentor, donor, or advocate, you can help shape the next 50 years of empowered youth and stronger communities across New Jersey.