In 1904, a New York City court clerk noticed that more young boys were entering the legal system at a younger age. He began pairing these boys with an adult mentor, and the number of boys in the system decreased. A similar system was implemented with girls after that, with both groups combining efforts a few years later. Slowly, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) made its way across the country. For over 50 years, Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters has been connecting Kansas kids with caring adult mentors to help prepare them for the world of adulthood.
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The power of presence
“It’s so powerful to connect a child with a caring adult mentor,” said BBBS SEK Area Director Monica Holmes. “So many kids lack the support and encouragement many of us take for granted. One life lesson or experience can make such a difference!”
Holmes shared the story of a young girl that was invited to make and eat dinner with her Big’s family. A good time was had by all as they sat and ate dinner together. On the way home, the Little told the Big, “Thank you! I have always wondered what it would be like to sit and eat dinner with a family.” This is the work of their One-to-One Mentor project.
“That was really eye-opening for a lot of us,” said Holmes. “Some of us wouldn’t think anything about it, but for some of these Littles, it just means the world. My advice to potential Bigs, it’s not about being perfect, it’s about being present.”
The importance of grants
When asked about the impact of granting for BBBS, Holmes stressed the importance of grant funding to their mission.
“We encourage our Bigs to not spend their own money, or very little,” she said. “We want them to find low-cost activities they can do with their Littles, but that can be hard to find.”
Grant funding allows BBBS to host events for their matches to have unique activities and experiences together. They have hosted a Girl Empowerment Day with motivational speakers and activities for girls, and several Make-Your-Own Pizza Nights with Drop the H Brewing Company in Pittsburg. BBBS also creates a goodie bag for each match with treats and activities the Big and Little can do together to start bonding.
“These projects help our matches make connections and enjoy an activity at no cost to them,” said Holmes. “We wouldn’t be able to do them without grant funding!”
Learn more
BBBS is always looking for new Bigs, and training is provided to all prospective Bigs. You can learn more about how to get involved on their website, KansasBigs.org.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2024 and has facilitated over $25 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its founding in 2001.
CFSEK serves the region by encouraging charitable giving to address present and future needs in our area. The Columbus, Fort Scott, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK.