About Us

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (JBBBS) believes that everyone deserves to have a friend or mentor in their lives that can have a long-lasting and transformative impact.

JBBBS offers two main programs that deliver on this life-changing impact - its Children’s Program and Friend 2 Friend Program. Children’s Programs pair children with Bigs who provide role-modeling, encouragement, and friendship. JBBBS new College Mentoring Program extends targeted mentoring services to college-bound students as they launch into young adulthood. These programs extend to the whole family by providing financial support and referrals to other social services agencies and holiday programming. Each year, the agency awards more than $300,000 in scholarships for both camp and college. JBBBS also serves adults with disabilities in the Friend 2 Friend Program with volunteer Friends who provide connection and friendship.

JBBBS currently has more than 400 matches across both programs. It could not be successful at the work of the more than 400 volunteers who generously give their time. All matches are supported by Master’s level JBBBS clinical match specialists who are experienced in supporting the whole family and making sure their collective needs are met.

Our Mission

JBBBS seeks to support and empower individuals and families to engage, to participate actively in the life of their communities, to live inspired and to inspire others. Through a holistic approach to supporting clients and families, we provide mentorship to children, teens and adults as well as financial support, holiday programming and referrals to other social service agencies. For this reason, JBBBS is proud to serve children and adults across all religions, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.

Our Vision

JBBBS is an innovative mentoring agency, driven by Jewish values, to serve and empower children and adults of all abilities throughout Greater Boston.

Key Jewish Values

Caring Community (תומכת קהילה Kehilah Tomachet) – creating a community where
kindness and support connect us, giving everyone a voice

Inclusivity (הכלה Hachala) – treating everyone with respect and understanding without bias or judgement

Companionship (רעות Re’ut) – building mutually supportive connections through
friendship and mentorshipr Boston.

OUR HISTORY

Founded in 1919, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston (then the “Jewish Big Brother Association”), is New England’s oldest youth mentoring organization and one of the 12 founding members of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters movement. Today, JBBBS is among over 400 independent Big Brothers Big Sisters programs in operation throughout the United States.

What began as a War-era initiative to serve Jewish immigrant boys and their families at a time when Jews lacked access to or were actively excluded from receipt of social services, has expanded its reach from an inaugural program serving a few children to one that, today, and with financial support from CJP, The United Way, the Rodman Ride for Kids and various foundation grants, matches over 250 Jewish and non-Jewish children from a variety of life circumstances and over 90 towns in eastern Massachusetts.

In 1992, the agency expanded further to include a first-of-its-kind friendship program for adults who have mild to moderate disabilities called Friend 2 Friend. The Friend 2 Friend program annually serves roughly 175 adults who benefit from the social interaction that the the program affords. JBBBS also serves as a co-sponsor of Yom Sport, a preeminent athletic event for adults of all abilities in Greater Boston’s Jewish community.

While much has changed for us in our over nine-decade history, the same values of family and community that inspired our beginnings sustain us to the present. For more information, contact us.

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“[JBBBS] reminds us that while this time may seem isolating and strange, that people who care are out there."

- Parent of Little