Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio

The Big Brothers Big Sisters programs operated independently in Toledo from 1937-1961 respectively, until January 1980, when the program merged to become Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio. This is an independent agency providing service consistent with the standards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and supported financially by the United Way of Greater Toledo, Ohio Job and Family Services, Mental Health & Recovery Services Board and Lucas County Children Services. The council of accreditation of services for families and children accredits the agency.

The primary purpose is to provide one-to-one mentoring relationship with a supportive adult to those children who need the personal guidance and support which a volunteer Big Brother Big Sister can provide. The value of the program lies in the personal relationship between the parent/guardian, child and adult. The knowledge on the part of the child that somebody is interested in him or her as individual increases self-esteem. The agency's professional staff supervises these matches.

Mission statement: To provide quality mentoring relationships between children and qualified adults in Northwestern Ohio and promote their development into competent, confident and caring individuals.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio offers a menu of services flexible enough to meet a variety of mentoring needs. Children may be enrolled in our program from ages seven to fifteen and then can remain with a Big Brother Big Sister until they graduate from high school.