About the Nonprofit
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Our mission is provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-toone
relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
To raise a child, it takes a village. This phrase is often preached, but not often practiced. Villages,
orcommunities, play an enormous role in determining the future of the youth. Communities that enhance
thelives of children consist of support, togetherness, and diversity. A child with no village is a child
withoutsupport, direction, or opportunity. However, many young people across Illinois are at a disadvantage
due tothe lack of community and/or guidance. To counter the absence of guidance within the youth, Big
BrothersBig Sisters was created.
Founded in 1975, by individuals devoted to the betterment of youth lives,
BigBrothers Big Sisters of Mid-Illinois (BBBS) is a nonprofit organization that serves adversity stricken or at
riskyouth, ages 5-13, in Coles, Effingham, Shelby, Douglas, Moultrie, Edgar, Clark, and Cumberland
Counties.Originally, the agency went by Big Brothers of Charleston-Mattoon; however, in an effort to be more
inclusiveand to ignite the future for as many young lives as possible services to girls were added in 1976, and
shortlyafter, we expanded to Shelby County. To reflect the development and expansion of the agency our
name waschanged to Mid-Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Currently, we mentor and support over 130 “Littles”, with about 56 more waiting to be matched to a ‘Big”. Wherever children are, is where we want to be.
We are in theschool system, partnering with school districts in cities including Mattoon, Robinson, Altamont,
Atwood-Hammond, among others. We are in the community, participating in community-based events and
evenmeeting with children at home. We are in athletic arenas, using sporting activities as a medium to
mentor theyouth. Regardless of the type of mentoring, our goal for each little is to improve self-esteem and
confidence. For a child to achieve their full potential, it takes an entire community being in their corner and
supportingthem.
At Mid-Illinois BBBS, supporting the leaders of tomorrow is what we do.
