Join Us in Shaping the Future
Your partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine represents more than a charitable contribution – it’s an investment in our community’s future workforce, mental health, and social fabric. With three decades of proven impact and a clear vision for growth, we invite you to join us in empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and community members.
Donate NowInvestment Impact
At roughly $2,800 per child served annually, your investment supports:
- Comprehensive mentor screening and training
- Professional match support and monitoring
- Family engagement and support services
- Program quality assurance
- Community outreach and mentor recruitment
The Growing Need for Mentorship
The landscape of youth development has changed substantially since our founding, creating unprecedented challenges for young people during their formative years. Research from MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership reveals a concerning trend: only 35% of young adults ages 18-21 report having grown up with a mentor, a dramatic decline from 66% in 2013. Their studies further demonstrate that this gap is even more pronounced among at-risk youth, who are less likely to have mentors but express the greatest desire for guidance.
Critical Challenges We're Addressing
Youth Mental Health Crisis:
- Teen loneliness rates have doubled between 2012 and 2018 (CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
- Nearly one in three teenage girls reported seriously considering suicide in 2021 (CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021)
- Young men without college degrees are experiencing mortality rates from “deaths of despair” three times higher than women (National Center for Health Statistics)
- Over 1.3 million at-risk LGBTQ+ youth have never had access to formal mentoring relationships (MENTOR National Research)
Workforce Development Concerns:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows male labor force participation (ages 20-29) has declined from 84% to 78% between 1980 and 2020, while female participation increased from 71% to 73%
- Studies by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership demonstrate that exposure to working adults shapes students’ career aspirations and trajectories
- National studies indicate that strong youth-adult relationships drive persistence in school and college enrollment
- Department of Labor statistics highlight growing skills gaps in traditional trades and technical fields
Our Comprehensive Approach
Mental Health Support:
Our mentoring model incorporates trauma-informed approaches and enhanced mental health awareness training for mentors. We focus on building resilience, developing emotional intelligence, and creating safe spaces for youth to process their experiences. Our programs actively support both youth and their families, providing resources and guidance for navigating mental health challenges.
Workforce Development:
We’re actively building tomorrow’s workforce through:
- Direct exposure to career opportunities and professional networks
- Development of crucial soft skills and financial literacy
- Support for academic achievement and post-secondary planning
- Guidance for college and trade school pathways
- Promotion of diversity in the workforce through targeted mentorship
Strategic Growth Initiative
We’re embarking on an ambitious expansion to meet the growing demand for mentors in Southern Maine. While our post-pandemic volunteer conversion rates have improved significantly, we need to scale our recruitment efforts to reach more youth, particularly focusing on:
- Adult mentors with male focus
- BIPOC community members
- Site-Based mentoring programs in schools
- Corporate partnership opportunities
