Become A Big!
What are the ‘requirements’ for being a Big?
Spend at least 1 hour per week with a child.
Matched based on mutual interests or complimentary personality traits.
Spend at least 1 year with the child you are matched with.
Must be 19+ years of age for Community-Based or 18+ years of age for Site-Based.*
Community-Based Bigs must have their own car, insurance, and a good driving record with at least 2 years of driving experience.
*High School Big programs are offered at specific locations, call 800-648-1696 to see if a High School Bigs Program is offered near you.
Be a Big & Empower a Little’s Potential!
By volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister you have the opportunity to impact the life of a child for the better. Together, we are Defenders of Potential!
We're always looking for people eager to positively impact a child and improve their community at the same time. For a few hours a month you can give a child the invaluable gift of your friendship. By simply changing their perspective of what the world can offer, you can literally start changing their life! It's as simple as playing catch, going to a ball game, painting nails, watching a movie, sharing stories, and just hanging out together!
But don't just take it from us.
// Check out some real life stories of Bigs & Littles in Northwestern Wisconsin.
How Do I Get Started?
There are a couple of ways you can get started:
Visit BBBSA to fill out an online application - You’ll be prompted to enter your current zip code to route you towards the correct program. We'll contact you to after we receive your online inquiry to start the enrollment process!
Email us or call 800-648-1696 and we’ll send you an informational packet and application.
You can also get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin as a donor. The gift you make today will help us match a child facing adversity with an adult mentor. Your gift will allow us to change the life of a child for the better, forever.
Who Are the Children and Where Do They Come From?
The children in our program all face adversity in their life in some way. Each child is unique and has a different background, but what they have in common is that they can all benefit from having a positive adult in their life.
Children are referred to us from parents, teachers, social workers, and some even refer themselves. However, the parents must enroll their child in the program.
Big Need for Big Brothers
About 2/3 of the children waiting for a Big are boys, but only about 1/3 of volunteers are men! These boys could really benefit from having a positive male influence in their life. So man up for mentoring and become a Big Brother today!
What Is the Commitment?
Volunteers are asked to commit a minimum of one (1) year to the program and to spend an average of one (1) hour per week with a child. Consistency is important to the children in our program and studies have shown that impact on the child is greatest after at least one year with a mentor. Our focus is on positively impacting the lives of children and this occurs through a consistent, but minimal, time commitment from our volunteers.
What Types of Programs Do You Offer?
We offer both Community-Based and Site-Based mentoring. However, the programs vary depending on your community.