Raised
$35,314
Progress
Goal
$75,000

About Our Organization

What does Big Brothers Big Sisters Do?

For more than 60 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. Most children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia live in single-parent and low-income families, or households where a parent is incarcerated. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”). Providing a system of ongoing evaluation and support, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia is proven by independent studies to help families by improving the odds that Littles will perform better in school and avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships with their parents and others. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia served 384 children in our community in 2017.

 

Our Vision: For all children to achieve success in life.

Our Mission:  Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

 

Accountability: By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community we are accountable for each child in our program achieving:

-Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships

-Avoidance of risky behaviors

-Educational Success

 

Service Area: We proudly serve children in the Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Salem, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Radford, and Pulaski County areas.

 

How does Over The Edge help Big Brothers Big Sisters?

When you participate in Over The Edge, you have the power to change lives for the better, forever. We depend on the money raised from Over The Edge to carry out the work of carefully matching children with caring adult mentors and providing ongoing support to the child, volunteer mentor and child's family. Today you can Register or Donate to our efforts to change the life of a child forever!

 

How does a Big becomes a Big—and a Little, a Little?

Before we make a match, we do our homework. After someone expresses an interest in becoming a Big, they go through a background check and careful interview process. Then we match Bigs and Littles based on location, personalities and preferences. We provide full support from the start, so matches can grow into lasting, impactful friendships. The entire matching process is made possible through donations—we can't do what we do best without them!

 

What are a Big and Little to do?

Each match is unique. Getting together doesn't require a special occasion or expensive activity—just a few hours every month doing things the Little and Big already enjoy. For example: Playing catch, reading books, going to a museum or providing advice and inspiration. Some Bigs meet their Littles on the weekends and others get together with their Littles in the evenings. Each match develops a schedule that works for them. Sometimes the best place for enjoying activities together is at the child's school. And, the best part is, it can be a great learning experience, in or out of the classroom.