 Dear Friends & Supporters, I’m excited to share with you the latest version of From the Director, with updates on our impact over the last year. 2024 was a year of transition, merging the staff, programs, fundraising and operations of the two agencies (BBBS of Metro Detroit and Washtenaw County). Yet, we kept our focus on our North Star, young people, which allowed us to create some amazing opportunities for learning and growth throughout the year. In 2024, 434 youth were supported, with 110 new matches made between Littles and Bigs. Our reach expanded with the addition of two new partner school, bringing the total number of sites to seven. The success of our mentoring initiatives was bolstered by partnerships with key organizations, including Ally Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the U.S. District Court. We continued to explore and implement innovative programming to enhance our mentoring and expand our reach. We refined and streamlined our School Based Mentoring (SBM) curriculum, enhancing its effectiveness and scalability and began preparing for a new high school Bigs initiative that was launched early this year in Ypsilanti. We also facilitated over 40 events/activities throughout the year, involving both matched and waitlist Littles, and their families. These included FAFSA and entrepreneurship workshops, a STEM workshop building Mousetrap derby cars, and visiting a construction site to learn about all of the careers involved. There were fun things too, like flag football with the Alphas, slime making, a skate night and a visit to the Creature Conservatory planned by our Youth Ambassadors group. Recognizing the importance of parent engagement, we have expanded our direct support for parents and guardians. We facilitated three Keep Connected Workshops, teaching parents about creating developmental relationships, and trained 61 parents/guardians in "Your Child’s Personal Safety," equipping them with tools to help prevent child sexual abuse. In addition, through partnerships, we were able to support Back to School and Holiday gifts, as well as give away over 60 bikes to kids in our programs. I’m most excited to share with you a groundbreaking study on the transformative power of mentorship in shaping young people’s educational, economic, and social trajectories. Conducted by leading researchers from Harvard University and the U.S. Department of Treasury, this first-of-its-kind study reveals how Big Brothers Big Sisters can serve as a scalable solution to reduce socioeconomic disparities over time. This research, rooted in three decades of data, provides compelling evidence that mentorship delivers long-lasting benefits: • Increased Earnings: Participants experienced a 15% boost in earnings between the ages of 20 and 25, reflecting enhanced economic mobility. The income of mentored youth as adults was more closely aligned with the income of their mentor than their family, helping to reduce the socioeconomic gap by two-thirds. • Higher College Attendance: Mentored youth are 20% more likely to attend college compared to non-mentored peers. • Healthier Social Outcomes: Mentored youth exhibit improved behaviors and strong social bonds, leading to a reduced dependency on social services and long-term societal improvements. While I’ve told countless stories of friendship, confidence building, and new opportunities/experiences for young people in my 20+ years at BBBS, this study shows us the direct impact of young people being seen, heard and understood on our communities and society, at large. I hope that you will join us in 2025 to create even more mentoring relationships and opportunities for young people. As a donor-supported, volunteer program we cannot do what we do, without you. Thank you.   This year, as we mark the 120th anniversary of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Month 2024, we share the impact of our programming on the youth that we serve, their families, and our community.
When you think of Big Brothers Big Sisters, you think of a Big and a Little. You picture the little moments that can have such a profound impact on a young persons’ life. It might be a Big listening intently and providing some perspective, over a slice of pizza. It might be a Little sharing their hopes and dreams for the future, while swinging together at the park. Or it might be the shared experience of creating art together, like Dominique and Aydnn, pictured above. This might have just been the respite that both needed at the end of a trying week. And these simple moments together build relationships, trust, comfort, and care that we all need to feel seen, heard and valued as human beings. But our work has always been bigger than the simple moments that create shared experiences and bonds that last a lifetime. Its’ impact has always seeped beyond the two individuals that we put together in a ‘match’. At BBBS, we call this our ‘plus’ – the things we support and facilitate outside of the mentoring relationship. And there are many. Last month alone, we facilitated so many amazing opportunities and experiences for our young people, their families, and our community.
And during this Big Brothers Big Sisters Month 2024 of celebrating impact, I want to recognize the impact that our dedicated team puts into making and supporting our matches, our families, our events and activities. Without them, none of these things would be possible. The planning and detail that goes into making matches, supporting family resources, and creating community connections for these partnerships to come to life takes time and care and they work so hard to ensure that it all looks fun and easy! Happy Big Brothers Big Sisters Month! Jen |
AuthorJennifer Spitler is a Licensed Master Social Worker with the State of Michigan. She has worked at BBBS of Washtenaw County since 2002, in a variety of roles - Match Specialist, Program Supervisor and Executive Director. Archives
June 2025
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