What does it take to be a Big Brother or Big Sister?
Big Brothers and Big Sisters are, foremost, friends to children: They share everyday activities, expand horizons, and experience the joy in even the simplest events. Within those little moments lies the big magic that a Big Brother or Big Sister brings to the life of a young person. Professionals in youth development support these individual, responsible relationships. And national research has shown that the shared experiences between Bigs and Littles have a direct and lasting impact on children's lives. A Big can help a child discover a world of possibilities and opportunities simply by being a genuine friend.

Being a Big Brother or Big Sister is something that almost anyone can do. Each potential Big is screened, trained, and supervised to help ensure that the relationship will be safe and rewarding for everyone involved. The only requirement is a willingness to make a new friend and a desire to share some fun with a young person. Our volunteers consistently say that being part of BBBS match is as enjoyable and fulfilling for them as it is for their Littles.

How did Big Brothers and Big Sisters begin in Kansas?
In 1971, a group of concerned volunteers began a Big Brothers program in Wichita to help prevent young boys from getting into trouble with the law and the juvenile court system. A similar program was founded as a separate entity in 1974 to address the needs of young girls, and in 1978 the two were merged to create Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County is one of the nearly 500 agencies nationwide in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America federation. It is the largest agency as measured by the number of matches served, and is widely recognized for its leadership within the Federation in serving children and for its innovative program service delivery and long-range growth strategies.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County was the only Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the United States selected as a "Teaching Example" at the Presidents' Summit On America's Future, in April 1997. Two staff members from the organization were selected as part of the delegation representing Wichita at the Summit. The organization was one of the first Big Brother Big Sister agencies to make the commitment to double the number of children served by the year 2000.

Since its inception, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County has served more than 15,000 children through the special mentoring relationship developed between a Big and Little Brother or Sister. The organization continues to be a leader in the non-profit sector, providing service to children who are at risk and might otherwise fall through the cracks in our community.

As the organization looks ahead, the board of directors and staff has made a commitment to continue the strategic growth plans implemented in 1996.

Where did the idea for Big Brothers and Big Sisters come from?
At the turn of the twentieth century, the media was exposing the terrible problems many children faced - dangerous jobs, poverty, crime, and absent parents. A man named Irvin Westheimer from Cincinnati was credited with creating the Big Brothers Big Sisters concept in 1903.

One day Westheimer saw a young boy and his dog scavenging through trashcans for food. He introduced himself to the boy and gave him a decent meal. Later he met the boy's impoverished family, and he eventually became a trusted friend. Westheimer went on to found Big Brothers of Cincinnati in 1910.

I'm interested in becoming a Big!