Through our diverse programs, we aim to equip young minds with the tools necessary to realize their greatest potential. By fostering quality mentoring relationships, we empower children to become competent, confident community members.
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships. Our focus is on reaching the children who need mentoring the most, including those living in single parent homes, growing up in poverty, or coping with either the loss of a parent or parental incarceration. Our services are unique in their combination of natural friendship development with the support of professional case management.
Our proactive approach to reaching more children in a group mentoring setting is developed through partnerships with school districts. These programs offer high school students the opportunity to mentor a middle or elementary school student. The program sessions take place at the middle or elementary school where BBBS staff plan and facilitate meaningful activities that the matches do together. Our School Based Mentoring programs build leadership skills for the mentors (Bigs) and provide one-to-one mentoring for the mentees (Littles).
In this program we connect businesses and corporations with schools allowing employees to mentor students on the job! The students experience job shadowing, workplace department tours, and presentations geared towards post-secondary opportunities and career preparedness.
Our Bigs in Blue programs with the Morris & Bergen county’s sheriff’s departments partner local law enforcement officials with students from local schools and help to build strong and trusting relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Local hospitals like Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center, and Saint Peter’s University Hospital provide students from local high schools with opportunities to explore different careers in the medical field while also receiving one-to-one mentorship.
Companies like BMW of North America, Deloitte, and New Jersey Natural Gas provide a space and volunteer mentors who meet bi-weekly with students from a local grade school for one-to-one mentoring and activities geared toward career exploration.
Our College Based Mentoring programs pairs college students with high school and elementary students for one-to-one mentoring. The mentees (Littles) meet with their mentors (Bigs) on campus and in addition to mentoring, the program exposes the Littles to the college experience as they explore majors, how to enroll, and the importance of pursuing their dreams.
Our CARES Program – an acronym for Creating Access to Resources, Events, and Support – was designed to extend assistance beyond mentoring for all youth enrolled in BBBSCNNJ. Through CARES, we connect families with essential resources such as food security, clothing, mental healthcare, tutoring, camp scholarships, school supplies, and holiday gifts, aiming to provide a holistic approach to serving the children and families in our program.
The CARES Program provides enriching experiences for Bigs, Littles, and youth on our waiting list. These opportunities include fishing trips, tickets to sporting events, theater outings, holiday parties, cooking workshops, yoga classes, and more. Many of these experiences are offered at no cost or with a generous discount. The success of the CARES Program is made possible through the kindness and support of local businesses and community stakeholders.
Explore the transformative impact of our CARES events with inspiring workshops, exciting festivals, and unforgettable outings.
Keep an eye on your inbox for updates on future CARES Events like cooking workshops, sporting events, live music, fishing trips, food festivals, and more!
Bigs, if you are not receiving these emails regularly, please let your case manager know.