Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island

A 'Big' is a volunteer mentor who is matched in a one-to-one relationship with a child ('Little') in our program. A mentor is a friend, a supporter, a positive and consistent addition to the life of a Little. A Big Brother or Big Sister is not a replacement parent, a babysitter or a therapist. Rather someone to help share a different perspective on life and help their Little to realize their endless potential. Accepted volunteer mentors are 18 or older. You must also complete an in-depth interview with one of our program staff and sign off on a background and DMV check to be conducted on your behalf. We request that you agree to a minimum of one year to be matched with a child, and to spend at minimum a couple of hours a week a few times per month with them. It is not the amount of time that matters most, but your consistency that matters most to the children in our program. Approximately 20% of all out current matches have been together for 5 or more years! Once a Big and a Little are matched, they are assigned a Case Manager who will oversee and monitor the match for its duration. Our designated staff is available for answers to any questions, to guide and assist with any issues or difficulties, and to ensure that all parties are benefiting from the relationship. Additionally, BBBSLI provides training and support services for the duration of the match relationship.