Helping young people in the North Bay grow up to be happy, successful, contributing members of our community by providing a professionally supported mentor to each child in need.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay is a donor and volunteer supported organization that provides adult mentors to children in Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties who need caring role models in their lives - a friend, guide and supporter who can expand their horizons and help them realize a bright future. Our mission is to help young people in the North Bay grow up to be happy, successful, contributing members of our community by providing a professionally supported mentor to each child in need.
Founded a century ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters is an internationally recognized mentoring organization with more than 380 independent chapters nationwide. The organization is dedicated to providing positive, adult role models for children ages 6-17. To learn more about our programs click here.
History of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay
Three decades ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay (formerly Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marin) was formed to improve the lives and futures of thousands of children in Marin County. In 1999 Napa County was added to our service area, and in 2007 we incorporated Solano County and changed our name to reflect our expanded service area. In 2008 we merged with the Sonoma County agency. We are currently serving over 1,600 children per year in the North Bay.
The Need in the North Bay
There's an urgent need for new mentors, particularly men. We have over 200 children waiting to be matched, mostly boys. It is imperative that we provide mentors for these deserving kids. There's often a misconception that families in Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties are wealthy and have few problems. Unfortunately, the North Bay is home to thousands of families in need of our mentoring services.
Making a Difference One Child at a Time
The most important factor contributing to a child's future success is a positive adult role model. A national study showed that Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children develop the skills they need to beat the odds against them. Children in our program are:
The study also concluded that Littles have better relationships with their families and peers, perform better in school, and develop greater self-esteem, self-confidence and self-reliance.
In addition, a large number of adults surveyed that were in our program report that they have reached an education milestone – a 4-year degree, a higher level of education than their parents – and now give back by volunteering, donating or taking a leadership role in their community.