BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF COLORADO INC

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF COLORADO (BBBSC) DELIVERS HIGH-IMPACT MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AND PIKES PEAK REGIONS. THESE PROGRAMS RELY ON TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ("BIGS") AND ARE SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL BBBSC STAFF. THESE VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BBBSC'S PROGRAM OPERATIONS. IN FY2025, VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 46,416 HOURS OF MENTORING AND SUPPORT, VALUED AT 1.8 MILLION. WHEN THIS VOLUNTEER-PROVIDED VALUE IS CONSIDERED, PROGRAM-RELATED EXPENSES REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 77% OF TOTAL ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENDITURES. DURING FY2025, BBBSC: -PROVIDED ONE-TO-ONE VOLUNTEER MENTORING, SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING,AND GROUP-BASED MENTORING EXPERIENCES TO 1,641 YOUTH AGES 9-18 ACROSS COMMUNITY-BASED, SPORTS BUDDIES, STARS PEER MENTORING, PROJECT AIM, AND BIG FUTURES PROGRAMMING. -SUPPORTED YOUTH ACADEMIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES, INCLUDING: O78% OF YOUTH MAINTAINING OR IMPROVING THEIR GRADES, OMENTORED YOUTH BEING 20% MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE, OYOUTH DEMONSTRATING HIGHER CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WITH 94% REPORTING CONFIDENCE IN ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS. -CELEBRATED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, MANY OF WHOM ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GRADUATE, AND PROVIDED POST-SECONDARY PLANNING, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH THE BIG FUTURES WRAPAROUND PROGRAM. -OFFERED ORIENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND ONGOING TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEER MENTORS; DELIVERED SCHOOL-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING (STARS AND PROJECT AIM); AND PROVIDED RESOURCE REFERRALS FOR FAMILIES INCLUDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CLOTHING, HOLIDAY SUPPORT, MENTAL- HEALTH RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES-ENSURING MATCH STABILITY AND YOUTH WELL-BEING. -CREATED 159 NEW MENTORING MATCHES AND MAINTAINED AN AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH OF 3.6 YEARS, DEMONSTRATING HIGH RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AND RETENTION. -SERVED YOUTH EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS (70%), FAMILIES RECEIVING INCOME ASSISTANCE (41%), AND YOUTH WITH AN INCARCERATED PARENT (15%). RESEARCH CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT MENTORING REDUCES RISKY BEHAVIORS, INCREASES ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND STRENGTHENS LONG-TERM ECONOMIC OUTCOMES. BBBSC REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY, CONSISTENT, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES FOR COLORADO YOUTH AND FAMILIES.