Individual Mentoring
Community Based
The Community Based program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio matches a child between the ages of 5 to 16 who could benefit from the friendship of a Big Brother or Big Sister volunteer. Married couples can also spend time together mentoring one child and find this option easy and fun! Bigs in this program must be 18 years of age or older and be able to make at least a six month commitment to a child. You can volunteer by yourself or with your spouse. Each participant will complete an individual interview and attend training prior to being matched with your Little.
A Big is someone who can build a friendship with a child. Many of our volunteers report getting more out of the relationship than they put in. Be part of the magic - start today!
Special Mentoring Populations
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio also partners with various community groups to extend its community based mentoring program into special populations. Currently, the central Ohio agency collaborates with the following groups to create community based one to one matches:
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Through a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the central Ohio agency has successfully established collaboration with the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the largest and oldest African American male fraternity in the country. This effort has earned the agency the Theodore S. Berry Award of Appreciation from the fraternity.
- Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters - This collaborative program with Jewish Family Services matches Jewish volunteers and youth ages 5 to 14 in one to one relationships. In addition to meeting twice a month as Bigs and Littles, members of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters participate in periodic group activities that focus on religious and cultural activities. The programs uniqueness is from the general ideal of enhancing Jewish Background through mentoring. There are currently 8 active participants and we are always looking for more!
- Tri-Village Mentor League - Big Brothers Big Sisters has partnered with members of the Tri-Village (Grandview, Upper Arlington and Marble Cliff) area to create one to one matches among volunteers and youth living in the Tri-Village area.
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- For more information about volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister in the Community Based program call toll free 800-892-BIGS (2447) or
- In Franklin County call: 614-839-2447
- In Delaware County call: 740-369-2447
- In Union County call: 937-645-3065
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- Site Based Programs
- Big Brothers Big Sisters maintains partnerships with other agencies that offer new or existing mentoring programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters consults with each site based program to assist with defining program parameters and the extent to which Big Brothers Big Sisters support services will be included in the collaboration.
- Chase Leadership Academy - Chase Leadership Academy matches employees at Chase as mentors to students from our four high schools within the: Columbus Public Schools, Olentangy City Schools and South Western City Schools districts. In the Chase Leadership Academy students are taught a variety of valuable work skills including life skills such as budgeting, financial planning, and work ethics. There is an annual formal graduation ceremony for seniors who complete the program. In addition, students who successfully graduate are eligible for a job interview at Chase and will receive a $500 scholarship.
- School Based Programs - Big Brothers Big Sisters supports several mentoring programs based at local schools. Volunteers include college students, high school students, corporate volunteers, in addition to individuals from the community and faith based organizations. Volunteers usually visit with their mentees once a week for one hour either during school or after school in an academically focused, one on one mentoring relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides on site supervision, program coordination, and serves as liaison between collaborating partners. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio is proudly partnered with the following school districts:
Big Walnut Schools
Columbus Public Schools
Delaware City Schools
Fairbanks Schools
Grandview Heights Schools
Marysville City Schools
Olentangy City Schools Reynoldsburg City Schools
South Western City Schools
Upper Arlington Schools
Westerville City Schools
Today in the United States, there are approximately 2.4 million children who have one or more incarcerated parents. This staggering statistic is brought home as we consider what is happening to the children affected by a parent incarceration in the state of Ohio. Statistics show that an overwhelming seventy percent of these children are at risk to enter a juvenile correctional system or to become incarcerated as well.
These devastating statistics have led to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, Community Connections, and local faith-based organizations to form a new mentoring initiative known as AMACHI. AMACHI is a unique program that is currently being offered in only 16 cities across the United States. "Amachi" is a West African word that means "Who knows but what God has brought us through this child". This is a one-to-one mentoring program that matches children (ages 5-17) of incarcerated parents with volunteers from the faith-based community. Our goal is to provide at least 300 children with a consistent, caring and supportive adult within the first year.
If you are interested in learning more or feel that your church would be a good match for the Amachi Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program, please contact:
Jennifer Voit
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio
1855 E. Dublin Granville Road
Columbus, Ohio 43229
614-839-2447, ext. 158
jvoit@bbbscentralohio.org
