“We’re Saving the World”; How Big Brothers Big Sisters is Gearing Up for the School Year
Written by Anna Dodge, James Madison University Summer 2024 Intern
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia is a local nonprofit providing children facing adversity with strong and enduring professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia has been serving this community since 1972 and has become a beacon for youth.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a national organization with 235+ agencies across the United States. Over the last 10 years the organization has served more than two million children in need with the help of nearly 400,000 volunteer mentors and families currently engaged in the program.
“We’re in the business of putting positive, caring adult role models in the lives of kids who are facing adversity in hopes that the relationship we can help create between mentor and mentee puts that child on a better path towards success,” said Ash Gorman, the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia.
Prior to the pandemic BBBS served over 200 youth annually, but numbers have since dropped. Currently they serve about 100 - 115 youth per year. These numbers have steadily been increasing since the pandemic but they are hoping to get back to pre-pandemic numbers.
That goal isn’t possible without the help of volunteers. They are always in need of someone to be a “Big”. A Big is an adult who is able, and willing to volunteer about 8 - 12 hours a month to help these kids lead better lives. Being a Big can be you taking your little out to lunch or going to the park, anything that builds a healthy relationship with these kids.
They currently have about 30 youth on their waiting list in need of a Big and are anticipating this number to increase as school starts to gear back up. If interested in fostering a relationship with a local youth and helping that child become successful in their lives, select one of these options for mentorship:
- Community-Based Big Brother/Big Sister
- High School Big Brother/Sister
- Site-Based Big Brother/Big Sister
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia has some exciting events coming up this fall. They have the Big Little Poker Run at Smith Mountain Lake on August 24. Then they have the CASA and BBBS joint Golf Tournament on September 18th. Finally, they have The Feud on November 16.
To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia and how to volunteer with this organization, check out their Share Greater Lynchburg profile. To see our interview with Ash Gorman on The Mike Show, click here.