Sixty years ago the Chattanooga community created a program to assist children in need of positive role model companions. In 1956, the Chattanooga Pastors Association noticed the rise of juvenile delinquency due to the lack of male guidance. Big Brothers began when 50 male volunteers were matched to 50 boys. With support from the President of Big Brothers, Porter Warner Jr., and the agency’s first Director Irvin Jacob Richmond, the organization achieved its charter on Jan. 3, 1957 and became Big Brothers Association of Chattanooga.
Big Sisters International merged with Big Brothers in 1977 to expand the services offered to boys and girls in Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia. During the past 60 years, over 21,000 youth in the Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia areas have been served through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga.
"Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest and oldest mentoring organization in the country. Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga serves children ages 6-18 in Bradley, Marion, Hamilton, Catoosa, Walker and Dade counties," officials said. "The mission of BBBS is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
"By partnering with parents/guardians, volunteers an,d others in the community, BBBS holds itself accountable to its goal that all children in the program achieve higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors, and educational success.
"BBBS provides at-risk children with personalized, one-to-one mentoring relationships. Each child is carefully 'matched' with a caring adult mentor and is supported and monitored by a professional case manager. The agency ensures that all mentors go through a layered background check, training, and thorough screening/ interview process. Volunteers spend an average of four hours a month mentoring in one of our programs.
"Research and evidence show specifically that BBBS’ one-to-one mentoring helps at-risk youth overcome the many challenges they face, especially at a time in their lives when even small choices can change the course of their future."
For further information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, contact Ansley Kellermann at ansley@bbbschatt.org, or call 423-698-8017.