APRIL 2025

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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.
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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.
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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.
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• 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.