Traditional Program
The Traditional Program of Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Central Ohio matches a child/youth between the ages of 5 to 16 who could benefit from a friendship with a Big Brother or Big Sister volunteer. We have several married couples who are involved together as a Big Brother or Big Sister sharing one child and find this easy and fun! The Central Ohio agency currently serves over 1,200 children in Traditional one-to-one matches.
Considerations of a Big Brother or Big Sister consist of the following:
- 19 years of age
- 6-month or 1-year options
- Two face-to-face interactions per month
Screening, matching, and match support are provided by our professional program staff.
Special Mentoring Populations
Big Brothers Big Sister Association of Central Ohio also partners with various community groups to extend its Traditional mentoring program into special populations. Currently, the Central Ohio agency collaborates with the following groups to create Traditional 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 a collaboration with the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the largest and oldest professional African American fraternity in the country. This effort has made our partnership the most successful in the Federation and earned the agency the Theodore S. Berry Award of Appreciation from the fraternity.
- Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters - This program matches Jewish volunteers and youth ages five to 14 in one-to-one relationships. In addition to meeting twice a month as Big and Littles, members of Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters participate in periodic group activities with Jewish Family Services that focus on religious and cultural activities.
- Tri-Village Mentor League - Big Brothers Big Sisters has partnered with members of the Tri-Village (Grandview, Marble Cliff, and Upper Arlington) area to create one-to-one matches among volunteers and children/youth living in the Tri-Village area.
- P.A.L.S. - The P.A.L.S. program matches children/youth ages five to 14 from households with alternative lifestyles in one-to-one relationships with adult volunteers who are sensitive to the needs of these families.
For more information about volunteering as a Big Brother or Big Sister in the Traditional Program in:
Franklin County call (614)839-BIGS (2447) ext. 146,
Delaware County call (740) 369-BIGS (2447), and
Union County call (937) 645-3065
