Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been making a difference in the lives of children for over a century. The national organization currently operates in all 50 states and 12 countries worldwide, helping kids reach their full potential with the help of caring role models.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah (BBBSU) is one of more than 200 agencies nationwide. Serving the entirety of Utah, BBBSU is proud to create and support mentoring relationships for kids across the state. BBBSU’s official anniversary is February 22nd, but the organization will be celebrating 45 years of mentoring in Utah all year long. It is a perfect time to celebrate the commitment to positively impacting the lives of children and youth in Utah.

The History of Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving children’s lives for over a century. Ernest Coulter, a court clerk in New York City, founded the organization because he noticed many boys in his courtroom lacked a caring adult in their lives who could help them stay out of trouble.

He set out to find volunteers, marking the beginning of the Big Brothers movement. Meanwhile, a group called the Ladies of Charity took girls who came before the New York Children’s Court under its wing. Later, the group became ‘Catholic Big Sisters of New York’. These two groups worked independently until 1977, when they merged to become what we know today as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has grown and expanded over the years, operating in all 50 states and 12 countries through its international arm Big Brothers Big Sisters International. In 2004, the organization celebrated 100 years of serving America’s youth. In 2012, it released its first Youth Outcomes Survey, highlighting its success in education, behavior, and emotional growth. The organization diversified its leadership in 2020 when Artis Stevens became the first black CEO.

The History of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah

On February 22nd of 1978, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Salt Lake was officially incorporated. Within the first five years, over 100 children were served. Ten years after its start, BBBSU received the Governor’s Award of Excellence. 

BBBSU was founded with the help of other individuals and continues to thrive with the help of donations and volunteers. BBBSU began its first fundraising event titled ‘Bowl for Kids’ Sake in 1984 – an event that continues today. In 1994, Friends of BBBSU (the organization’s local donation center social enterprise) began through a partnership with the thrift store, Savers. Today, BBBSU has continued to partner with Savers to collect donations that help support one-to-one mentoring programs.

BBBSU’s programs and offices have also evolved. In 1999 school-based mentoring programs began in Salt Lake County. In 2003, a St. George satellite office opened to serve children in Washington County. The Park City office began serving children in Summit and Wasatch Counties three years later. The same year, Utah Country school-based mentoring programs began. In 2014, BBBSU’s newest mentoring program mentor2.0, began at Cottonwood High School. Mentor2.0 was created to help high-school students with planning for success after graduation and going on to career, college, or military. 

In the last 45 years, BBBSU has been recognized in various ways for excellence and achievement. BBBSU received the Pinnacle Award from Big Brothers and Sisters of America in 2009 and 2017, the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace flexibility, the Partner Award from USWSL in 2015, and the Daniels Fund Ethics Award in 2017. 

By 2000, more than 500 children were served by BBBSU. Five years later, the number of children served doubled. By 2016, over 1200 children were served. BBBSU continues to offer volunteer opportunities in Utah for individuals who want to impact the lives of Utah’s youth. 

In 2017, BBBSU received the Pinnacle Award from BBBSA and the Utah Ethical Leadership Award from Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative. In the same year, the first mentor2.0 cohort graduates graduated from Cottonwood High School.

In 2018, the waiting list for Little’s decreased from 253 to 126; additionally, over 1,3000 children were served. The BBBS rebranding took place the same year.

In 2019, BBBSU transitioned to Matchforce, a Salesforce Platform for our program CRM. We also began Workplace Mentoring with Discover Financial.

In 2020, mentoring programs went viral in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the first virtual Chef and Child Gala occurred. BBBSU also received the Quality Award from BBBSA.

In 2021, BBBSU received another Quality Award from BBBSA and hosted our first Big Night Out Gala.

In 2022, BBBSU partnered with Kearns and Ben Lomond High Schools as new mentor2.0 sites. We also received the Annual Report (Silver) Biggie Award from BBBSA.

In 2023, BBBSU was chosen as the beneficiary of ‘Team LeBron’ for the 2023 NBA AllStar Game. BBBSU also celebrated its 45th Anniversary of BBBSU.

Get Involved Today and Help Create Brighter Futures for the Children in Our Community

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah plays an essential role in the lives of children and young people, providing positive role models, support, and guidance to help them reach their full potential. Volunteering or donating to BBBSU can make a difference in a child’s life and help them build a brighter future. BBBSU has been working to make more mentoring relationships for the last 45 years, and is looking forward to many more years of igniting potential in Utah’s youth. If you’re interested in making a positive impact through volunteer opportunities in Utah, consider becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister today! Apply and learn more at bbbsu.org/be-a-mentor/