Community Program

Our community-based mentoring is the traditional Big Brothers Big Sisters relationship. It is all about one-to-one time with the volunteer mentor and young person doing the things that they enjoy, a few hours a couple of times a month filled with shared interests and activities such as: shooting hoops, playing a board game, scrapbooking, watching movies, taking a walk in the park, sharing a pizza, etc.

The schedule can be flexible to meet the needs of the mentor, child, and child's family. Some Bigs get together with their Littles on the weekends or in the evenings; other matches meet after school. There's almost no one too busy to participate in this program and make a difference in a child's life.

Married couples can also participate in this program together in our Family Match Program.

You must have your own vehicle and valid car insurance to participate in this program. College students who wish to participate in the program must live in St. Joseph County year round to be eligible.

School Mentor Program

School-based mentoring is not a classroom program or tutoring; it is one-to-one mentoring with the child's school as its setting. Of course, the match will discuss schoolwork, read together, and complete homework, but the emphasis is on the friendship and guidance.

Volunteers who participate in our school-based mentoring program meet with their Littles for at least one hour each week throughout the school year. Matches in this program do not meet outside of the school setting.

Kids enjoy school-based mentoring and their parents realize what a difference it makes. Teachers are some of the biggest supporters of this type of program; they see their students come back, from their weekly visits with their Big, full of confidence and excitement about school. Kids who feel better about themselves do better in school.

If you are not a Penn High School student you must have your own car and valid car insurance to participate in this program.