ABOUT US

Mission Statement

Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

Vision Statement

All youth achieve their full potential.

Accountability Statement

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

The story of BBBS SLMR: Expanding mentorship across northern indiana, southern michigan, and beyond to build stronger futures

• 1968: The seeds of change were planted when a passionate group of students at the University of Notre Dame formed an interest group dedicated to mentoring youth. Big Brothers was born, sparking a movement in South Bend, Indiana.
• 1969: The spirit of mentorship expanded as the South Bend Concerned Women’s Group, led by visionary Sylvia DeBoskey, launched Big Sisters. Together, they began transforming lives in the community.
• 1972: In Elkhart, Mayor Dan Hayes united Juvenile Probation and local youth-serving organizations to tackle rising incidents of delinquent behavior. With seed funding from Heart City Kiwanis and support from businesses, organizations, and individuals, Big Brothers was launched in Elkhart County to provide boys with positive role models and guidance.
• 1973: In a powerful unification, Big Brothers and Big Sisters merged locally to create Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph County. This partnership amplified their impact, bringing more hope and opportunity to the area’s youth.
• 1974: Big Sisters expanded to Elkhart County, offering positive role models for girls and broadening the program’s reach to serve even more children.
• 1980: Growth and success led to the establishment of Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph County's first dedicated office in South Bend on Madison Street. This milestone marked a new chapter of expanded reach and services.
• 1995: Innovation took root with the launch of Big Brother Big Sisters of St. Joseph County's first School Mentoring initiative at Perley Elementary School in South Bend. This program set the stage for decades of successful school-based mentorship.
• 1998: In Elkhart County, a transformative partnership between a local school and seminary gave rise to the first supervised site-based mentoring program, Lunch Buddies, creating meaningful, lunchtime connections between mentors and mentees.
• 2020: A significant merger united Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lower West Michigan with the St. Joseph County agency, creating Big Brothers Big Sisters Southern Lake Michigan Region. This merger broadened our reach, extending our transformative programs to even more communities.
• 2022: Continuing our journey of growth, we merged with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Elkhart County. Today, we proudly serve children across 7 Indiana counties and 3 Michigan counties. Our deep-rooted relationships with schools and community centers have been the cornerstone of our success, leading to an expansion of our site-based programs across multiple districts and neighborhood centers.
• 2023: A High School Bigs program launched in Benton Harbor, connecting high school students with opportunities to mentor younger peers, with plans to expand these programs further in the coming year.
• 2024 and Beyond: The innovative Big Duos program was introduced, allowing friends to team up and mentor a child together, making mentorship more accessible and collaborative. With each new initiative, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering youth and building a brighter future for all.

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