About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Our Mission

Our mission is to create and support meaningful youth development experiences that empower young people to reach their full potential as confident learners, leaders, and engaged citizens. Through mentoring, leadership development, STEM education, and youth voice initiatives, we equip children and adolescents with the academic skills, social-emotional competencies, and leadership pathways needed to achieve lifelong success and contribute positively to their communities.

Vision

A community where every young person is supported, empowered, and equipped to achieve their full potential and lead healthy, purpose-driven lives.

Our History

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio (BBBSNWO) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of children and families across Lucas and Wood counties through mentoring, prevention, and youth development. Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs operated independently in Toledo from 1937 until 1961, when the organizations merged locally to expand their reach and effectiveness. In January 1980, the agency formally became Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio.

For more than 80 years, BBBSNWO has delivered high-quality mentoring and prevention services in alignment with the national standards and evidence-based practices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Over time, the agency has evolved to meet the changing needs of youth and families by expanding beyond traditional one-to-one mentoring to include group mentoring, leadership development, STEM education, social-emotional learning, and substance misuse prevention programming.

Today, BBBSNWO serves thousands of youth annually through school-based, community-based, and after-school programs that focus on building protective factors, strengthening resilience, and preventing risky behaviors such as substance misuse. Through strong partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, universities, and community organizations, BBBSNWO continues to serve as a trusted leader in youth mentoring and primary prevention across Northwest Ohio.

Our Staff

BBBSNWO is staffed by professionally trained youth development and prevention specialists who carefully screen, match, and support qualified volunteer mentors with children and youth in long-term mentoring relationships. Our team uses evidence-based practices and trauma-informed approaches to ensure that each match is safe, effective, and responsive to the unique needs of the child and family.

In addition to match supervision, staff provide ongoing coaching, monitoring, and family engagement to help youth remain engaged in school, build positive coping skills, and avoid high-risk behaviors such as substance misuse. Through consistent communication, progress tracking, and problem-solving support, our staff help ensure that mentoring relationships remain strong and that youth have the stability and guidance needed to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

LEADERSHIP

Our Team