Mentoring Programs for Young Men and Boys
Find youth mentoring programs for boys, teens and young men in Broward County from one of the most trusted nonprofits in the country: Big Brothers Big Sisters. On this page, you can learn about BBBS of Broward and our programs for young men and boys and how you can get involved and become a male mentor.
Male Youth Mentoring Programs in Broward County
Big Brothers Big Sisters has existed since 1904, when a New York City judge recognized the need for positive role models for the boys that came through the juvenile justice system. Since then, Big Brothers Big Sisters has grown to have chapters in every state and 12 countries.
Our traditional Big-Little matchups are at the core of what we do. Our male mentorship programs match qualified adult males with boys, teens and young men who are seeking mentors. Some youth come from divorced families, some come from healthy two-parent homes, and some have incarcerated parents.
The boys come to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward with the consent of their families, typically on referral from a friend, family member or someone at their schools. They may be struggling with school, sports or in other areas; or, they may have untapped potential that their family believes a mentor can help with.
In addition to our traditional community-based matchups, BBBS of Broward has these programs:
- Big Futures, a career-readiness mentoring program for boys and girls
- Children of Promise, a mentoring program aimed at children with incarcerated parents
- Bigs With Badges, a mentoring program that matches first responders with mentees
- School-Based Mentoring, school-based programs that match adult mentors (Bigs) with kids at their schools (typically over lunch)
- School-to-Work, where companies offer one-to-one mentoring between employees and youth
- Big Pride, an LGBTQ+ mentoring program
Benefits of Male Mentorship Programs with BBBS
With Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward, both Bigs and Littles benefit from over 100 years of knowledge and experience. Additionally, each match has a program specialist who oversees the match and can help with activities and issues that arise.
We have data that supports the theory that male mentoring programs increase high school graduation rates, decrease juvenile justice cases, and improve boys’ social and emotional development. Additionally, mentorship:
- Builds self-confidence and self-esteem
- Provides positive male role models
- Supports academic and career goals
- Helps with social and emotional development
- Exposes kids to new experiences
- Encourages good judgment
- Promotes making good choices
- Prevents risky behaviors
- Improves interpersonal relationships
- Shapes boys into well-rounded men
Become a Big and Change Two Lives: Yours and Theirs
About 34% of adult volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward are men, while 42% of our Littles are male. You don’t have to be a math whiz to understand the disparity between male mentors and male mentees!
Guys, we need you. How can you get involved?
The journey to become a BBBS Big starts with an online application and a background check. We ask a lot of questions, and we do a thorough background check for all of our volunteers. Your responses are secure. We don’t share your personal information with third-party advertisers.
First, read more about what to expect when you become a Big.
Then, click “Become a Big” on any page to get started.
Once your application has been processed and approved, we’ll schedule your first in-person interview.
Anytime you have questions, contact BBBS of Broward.
Youth in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward Program*
*Based on our Annual Report 2022