ABOUT US
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts's (BBBSWM) mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of Youth.
In 2024, BBBS of Franklin County and BBBS of Hampden County (both agencies founded in 1967) merged to become BBBSWM. In addition, the agency also serves all of Berkshire County as well as the towns of Granby, MA and South Hadley. One of approximately 250 affiliates of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), meeting all required standards and procedures for full member status, BBBSWM is an independent 501C3 responsible for all fundraising, marketing, and administration locally.
For those looking to connect with services in Hampshire County, you can contact Center for Human Development's Big Brothers Big Sisters Program at (413) 478-8647 or via email at bbbshc@chd.org.
We’re always looking for people eager to positively impact a child and improve their community at the same time. Big Brothers especially are in high demand.
For a few hours, a couple times a month, you can give a Little the invaluable gift of your friendship. By simply changing their perspective of what the world can offer, you can literally start changing their life. Play a board game. Make fun crafts. Hit the playground together. Just as your options are unlimited, so is your Little’s potential.
It all starts with the right role models. And Big Brothers Big Sisters is the place to start a relationship with one. For over 100 years, due in large part to private donations, we’ve been able to recruit, screen, match and support mentoring relationships that have changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people across the country — one Little at a time.
You’ll feel the impact as much as your child.
There are many ways to defend potential in our community's youth:
Become a Big
Donate
Participate in fundraising events
Planned giving
Donate goods & clothing through Hartsprings
And so many more!
OUR IMPACT
Public/Private Ventures, an independent Philadelphia-based national research organization, looked at over 950 boys and girls from eight Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country selected for their large size and geographic diversity. This study is widely considered to be foundational to the mentoring field in general and to Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based program in particular.
Approximately half of the children were randomly chosen to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister. The others were assigned to a waiting list.
The matched children met with their Big Brothers or Big Sisters about three times a month for an average of one year.
Researchers surveyed both the matched and unmatched children, and their parents on two occasions: when they first applied for a Big Brother or Big Sister, and again 18 months later.
