Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound partners with actively involved community members to match caring adults with children, both of whom benefit from our one-to-one mentoring programs.

Description:
We are helping to change the odds for youth by providing them with an adult mentor who is caring, consistent, knows how to listen, and can be a good role model. Our agency currently has two mentoring programs:

Community-Based: An adult mentor makes a one year commitment and meets with a youth 3-4 times a month. Mentors and youth experience cultural and sporting events, creative endeavors, the discovery of new places, and the joy of just spending time together.

School-Based: Mentors make a commitment for the school year and meet with a youth once a week during regular school hours. Goals for the match include promoting the youth's academic and social competency, building a trusting friendship with one another, and having fun.

Children who feel wanted, encouraged, guided, and positive are far more likely to succeed as adults. Our mentoring programs provide youth with those key elements through a caring adult mentor who supports them, takes an interest in their well being, gives encouragement to them academically and socially, and boosts their self-confidence.

Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring concept may sound simple, but the rewards are tremendous. Youth in our programs get along better with their parents and friends, are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, and do better in school. The youth aren't the only ones who benefit either. Most volunteers start out thinking they'll give something back to their community, yet most end up saying "I get so much more then I give!"

History:
Big Brothers of King County and Big Sisters of King County began as separate organizations, founded in 1957 and 1973 respectively. The two organizations completed a merger January 1999 and officially began operations as Big Brothers Big Sisters of King County. In March 1999, the agency began overseeing matches in Pierce County and officially became Big Brothers Big Sisters of King and Pierce Counties in May 2000. One of the largest of 512 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies in the U.S., we are a nonprofit, non-sectarian, and multi-ethnic agency.

Contact person: Agency Info, (phone), (email)

Address:

1600 South Graham Street Seattle, WA 98108 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.bbbs.org/pugetsound

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	Yes
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes