Who we are

For over a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America have helped children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one relationships with proven results.

In 1903, a young Cincinnati businessman conceived the idea that became the keystone of the Big Brothers Program. Irvin F. Westheimer, distressed by a young boy foraging for food in an alley trash can, befriended the youth and learned that he was fatherless. Projecting that his new friend represented many boys, Mr. Westheimer informally talked to some business and personal friends, and they all agreed that such boys could benefit from an association with interested men who would act as a “big brother” to each of them.

Big Brothers of America

In 1904, a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter was seeing more and more boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these kids stay out of trouble, and he set out to find volunteers. That marked the beginning of the Big Brothers movement. By 1916, Big Brothers had spread to 96 cities across the country.

Big Sisters International

At around the same time, the members of a group called Ladies of Charity were befriending girls who had come through the New York Children’s Court. That group became Catholic Big Sisters and later, Big Sisters International.

Two mentoring groups join together in 1977

Big Brothers of America and Big Sisters International continued to work independently until 1977, when both groups joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sister of America.

Serving Niles and Buchanan since 1967

In 1967 a group of local volunteers saw the need for mentors to work with at-risk children. In April 1967, Big Brothers of Niles and Buchanan received its incorporation from the Michigan State Treasury Department. Our local affiliate followed the national trend of offering mentoring services to both boys and girls in 1979.

Serving Berrien and Cass Counties since 1998

In 1998, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America requested that our affiliate expand into the unserved areas of northern Berrien County and all of Cass County Michigan. The local Board of directors approved this expansion and the agency has been officially known as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien and Cass, Inc. since that time.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien & Cass today

In 2008 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien and Cass celebrates our 41st year of service and continues to provide trained mentors for children in the counties of Berrien and Cass.

And, more than a century later, Big Brothers Big Sisters remains true to our founder’s vision to bring caring mentors into the lives of children. Big Brothers Big Sisters currently operates in all 50 states… and in 35 countries around the world!

More than 100 years of Big Brothers Big Sisters

1902

Ernest Coulter, court clerk, helps organize the first New York Children's Court; Ladies of Charity, later Catholic Big Sisters of New York, starts to befriend girls who come before the New York Children's Court

1903

Businessman Irvin F. Westheimer befriends a young boy in Cincinnati, OH; seeds are formed for the start of Big Brothers in Cincinnati

1904

Ernest Coulter founds the organized Big Brothers movement by obtaining 39 volunteers, who each agree to befriend one boy

1912

The New York Times reports Big Brothers activity in 26 cities

1914

Ernest Coulter embarks on nationwide lecture tour on behalf of Big Brothers; planning begins for a national Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization

1916

Big Brothers work spreads to 96 cities

1917

The first national conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations is held in Grand Rapids, MI., leading to the later organization of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation

1923

Big Sisters work geared to African-Americans is underway in Louisville, KY and Brooklyn, NY;

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., becomes treasurer of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation;

First motion picture based on a Big and Little Brother relationship is released by Paramount Pictures

1925

Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation holds its first conference for agency executives;

President Calvin Coolidge becomes patron of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation

1930

Six hundred delegates attend a Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation meeting in New York City on March 8

1934

President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt become patrons of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation

1940

National Committee on Big Brothers and Big Sisters service is created to continue to pursue the formation of a national group

1947

Big Brothers Association headquarters opens in Philadelphia

1948

Norman Rockwell produces the sketch that becomes a symbol for the Big Brothers Association

1951

Big Brothers of the Year Program begins, Associate Justice Tom Clark of the U.S. Supreme Court and J. Edgar Hoover are named

1952

Ernest Coulter dies

1958

Big Brothers Association is chartered by Congress

1969

Big Brothers Association grows to 150 affiliated agencies

1970

Big Sisters International is incorporated

1971

Big Brothers Association reports 208 affiliates

1977

Big Sisters International and Big Brothers Association merge, forming Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with 357 agencies

1984

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America occupies its new headquarters at 230 North 13th Street in Philadelphia

1985

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is honored with a commemorative stamp by the Postmaster General

1986

Big Brothers Big Sisters begins long range governance planning process: creating standards and required procedures

1989

Public/Private Ventures begins study to gauge impact on youth of having a Big Brother or Sister

1994

Big Brothers Big Sisters kicks off Project 21st Century to develop mission and vision statements, goals and strategies;

“How-To” mentoring training developed

1995

Public/Private Ventures Study research shows measurable, positive results on youth who have a Big Brother or Sister, seminal research in the field of youth mentoring

1997

President William J. Clinton holds Volunteer Summit in Philadelphia; Big Brothers Big Sisters plays key role

1998

Big Brothers Big Sisters International is founded

2000

Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools becomes a core program. Partnerships with schools and volunteer-rich organizations such as churches, colleges, employers, and fraternities are emphasized. The Amachi Big Brothers Big Sisters program which matches children of prisoners with church congregants is piloted.

2001

Brand New Thinking marketing program focuses on the shared experiences to broaden volunteer appeal. The tag line "Little Moments, Big Magic" is developed

2002

The Service Delivery System, consistent approach for providing services to children at all agencies is created to increase Big Brothers Big Sisters’ ability to offer quality services to greater numbers of youth

2003

President George W. Bush announces three-year $450 million mentoring initiative in his State of the Union Address

2004

Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrates 100 years of serving America’s youth

2006

First Lady Laura Bush stars in a public service announcement to recruit volunteers across the nation

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