Serving Southeastern Pennsylvania & Southern New Jersey

For over 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence has been positively impacting children and communities in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in PA and NJ. We don't create potential in a child, we just foster and protect it.

Our one-on-one Mentoring Programs are designed to be flexible and can adapt to a variety of individual personalities, situations, and schedules.

Looking to get involved? Whether you’re interested in donating, volunteering, or enrolling your child, Big Brothers Big Sisters offers several types of programs in communities across the country.

Community-Based Mentor
Volunteer mentors (Bigs) and their mentees (Littles) meet on weekends or after school to enjoy match activities, play sports, visit museums or just talk. Spending time together out in the local community is how Bigs and Littles develop a solid relationship.

Bigs and Littles engage in one-to-one outings and activities they both enjoy between two and four times a month.

Site-Based Mentor
Sometimes the best place for a mentoring match to enjoy activities together is at the Little’s school or in the Big’s workplace. We are proud to offer three types of Site-Based Mentoring Programs.

• Beyond School Walls
  Littles visit their Bigs during the week at their workplace, giving children an opportunity to experience the corporate world first-hand and to set goals for the future.
• Mentor 2.0
  Littles attend a college and career readiness program weekly during the school day at KIPP High School in Camden and Parkway Center City Middle College in Philadelphia. They are paired 1:1 with mentors, engage with them weekly online, and meet monthly in person at the school
• College Bigs
  College students are matched with elementary and middle school students and spend time together at the Little’s school during lunchtime or after school.
• Corporate Bigs
  Professionals in Center City Philadelphia mentor children at Independence Charter School and Russell Byers Charter School once a week during lunchtime throughout the school year.

LGBTQ Programs
Research has consistently demonstrated that LGBTQ youth are at higher risk in a number of areas that impede healthy and safe development. We are partnering with local schools to support our LGBTQ youth by recruiting safe, responsible, and compassionate LGBTQ Volunteers to be group mentors to high school Gender and Sexuality Alliances – a safe/brave space for queer and questioning youth. Volunteers attend regular after-school meetings for 12 months and work to help their mentees achieve their goals and realize their full potential.

Age Groups	Children Adolescents
Community Services	Community Volunteer Opportunities Family & Support Services LGBTQ
Health Services	Behavioral / Mental Health Teen Issues
Treatment Services	In-Community Services Mentoring
Areas Served	Burlington County Camden County Gloucester County

Last Updated: 05/21/24