The Big Brothers Big Sisters movement can be traced back to 1904 when Ernest Coulter, a law clerk in New York City, issued a call for caring adults to step forward and serve as role models to the increasing number of boys appearing in the NYC court system. At about 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. The two organizations worked independently until 1977, when Big Brothers of America and Big Sisters International joined forces to become Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada was established in 1913, making it the second oldest BBBS organization in the world.

The 1995 publication of Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters provided independent confirmation that BBBS mentoring had a positive impact on children’s lives. Dissemination of the study’s results through the internet generated global interest in the BBBS mentoring model. Big Brothers Big Sisters International was established in 1998 in response to this increased demand to replicate BBBS mentoring in countries around the world. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) and Big Brothers Big Sisters International (BBBSI), two separate entities, work together through a cooperative agreement to promote BBBS services globally.

More than a century after its inception, Big Brothers Big Sisters is serving more than 270,000 children in 13 countries.

Timeline

1904

Ernest Coulter founded the organized Big Brothers movement by recruiting 39 volunteers, who each agreed to befriend one boy

1913

BBBS of Canada established

1916

Big Brothers work spread to 96 U.S. cities

1917

The first U.S. national conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations held in Grand Rapids, MI.

1925

U.S. President Calvin Coolidge became patron of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation

1934

U.S. President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt became patrons of The Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation

1958

Big Brothers Association chartered by the U.S. Congress

1969

Big Brothers Association reported 150 affiliated agencies

1977

Big Sisters International and Big Brothers Association merged, forming Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with 357 agencies

1978

BBBS of Bermuda established

1995

Public/Private Ventures research showed measurable, positive results for youth who have a Big Brother or Sister, seminal research in the field of youth mentoring

1998

Big Brothers Big Sisters International founded

2000

BBBS of South Africa established

2001

BBBS of Ireland established in partnership with Foroige, a national youth development NGO in Ireland

2002

BBBS of Australia established

2003

BBBS of Jerusalem, Israel established

2004

Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrated 100 years of serving youth, BBBS of the Netherlands established

2006

BBBS of Bulgaria established

2007

BBBS International establishes new global standards and qualifies 12 country programs as Affiliates