Programs

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest works to clear the path to a child’s biggest possible future by matching them with a caring, adult mentor in a one-to-one friendship. Littles are enrolled between the ages of 8-16. Matches are made based on similar interests, shared hobbies, similar backgrounds, and geographic areas. Once a match is made, the assigned Match Support & Success team member conducts monthly “match support” calls with all parties involved ensuring the safety and success of each match.

One-to-one matches between Bigs and Littles truly empower youth and strengthen communities. Our agency strives to create matches that are not only safe and well-suited to each child’s needs, but also harmonious and built to last.

Big Futures

The Big Futures program is crafted to assist high school students in achieving their goals and nurturing personal growth. In this program, students are matched with dedicated volunteer Bigs. These matches meet according to their schedules and engage in activities that both the mentor and mentee enjoy while partaking in a goal program. Big Futures aims to offer support and guidance to young individuals, helping them realize their potential and navigate significant life transitions, forging meaningful connections, and creating valuable experiences for all participants.

Big Pathways

Big Pathways is an exciting venture with NABA (National Association of Black Accountants). This program is reaching community college students by matching them with experienced professionals in accounting, finance, business, and entrepreneurship. Big Pathways thrives on the principles of group mentoring and 'laddered' mentoring, with a strong focus on recognizing and nurturing the strengths of young individuals. The program is all about fostering positive growth, creating a pathway for college students to realize their aspirations, and providing them with the tools and confidence to succeed in both education and their future careers. Thank you to our partners at MassBay Community College and PriceWaterhouseCoopers for piloting this program.

High School Leadership Program

Our HSLP is all about nurturing strong bonds and enhancing social and emotional learning (SEL) skills within a school environment. This program is unique because the mentors are high school students and the Littles are several years younger in middle school. The program revolves around four primary goals: boosting academic performance, preparing students for their futures, addressing behaviors that may hinder success, and promoting positive social behaviors. Each activity we plan is carefully tailored to hit these targets, allowing younger and older students to form solid friendships and learn from one another right within their school community. This year, we're piloting the program at Marlborough High School.

Ben Ticho C.A.R.E.S
Creating Access to Resources and Emergency Support

Often during evaluations and match-support meetings, BBBS staff become aware of situations in which a child or their family needs more services in addition to mentoring, so we created Ben Ticho C.A.R.E.S. (Creating Access to Resources and Emergency Support). Through this initiative, we can connect our families with other supportive agencies that provide critical items needed by families, such as food, clothing, emergency loans, holiday help, and other support to help get them through challenging times. By providing these types of services to the families engaged with Big Brothers Big Sisters, we aim to decrease the stresses that children may experience at home. The program was named in honor of Ben Ticho who was CEO of the agency for nearly 40 years.