About Us
For over a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been helping change kids’ perspectives and giving them the opportunity to reach their potential. And we have over a century of volunteers, donors, and advocates just like you to thank.
It all started in 1904, when a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter was seeing more and more boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these kids stay out of trouble, and he set out to find volunteers. That marked the beginning of the Big Brothers movement.
At around the same time, the members of a group called Ladies of Charity were befriending girls who had come through the New York Children’s Court. That group would later become Catholic Big Sisters.
Both groups continued to work independently until 1977, when Big Brothers Association and Big Sisters International joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
More than 100 years later, Big Brothers Big Sisters remains true to our founders’ vision of bringing caring role models into the lives of children. Today, Big Brothers Big Sisters currently operates in all 50 states and in 12 countries around the world.
Locally, New Jersey is proud to have 8 BBBS Agencies serving every county in the State. Joining in a spirit of collaboration, these form the New Jersey State Association of Big Brothers Big Sisters Agencies.
By working together, the BBBS Agencies in New Jersey have been supplementing the financial and organizational support each program needs to respond to the children on their waiting lists. More New Jersey children than ever before are benefiting from the positive impact of having Big Brothers or Big Sisters in their lives, but our work is not done. The New Jersey State Association of BBBS Agencies is focused on providing support so each agency can expand services to provide a mentor for every New Jersey child who needs and wants one. With the support of its corporate community and generous philanthropists, this vision can become a reality.
Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in New Jersey have serviced thousands of youth each year through mentorship.