It All Started with a Court Clerk Who Cared
For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been changing kids’ lives by giving them a champion to draw out and defend their potential. In Miami, we were established 60 years ago. Here is Big Brothers Big Sisters’ history at a glance:
1902
Ernest Coulter, court clerk, assists in organizing the first New York Children’s Court: Ladies of Charity, later Catholic Big Sisters of New York, to help girls who come before the New York Children’s Court.
1903
Businessman Irvin F. Westheimer wants to support a young boy in Cincinnati, OH; seeds are planted for the start of Big Brothers in Cincinnati.
1903
1904
Ernest Coulter founds the organized Big Brothers movement by obtaining 39 volunteers, who each agree to champion one boy.
1914
Ernest Coulter embarks on nationwide lecture tour on behalf of Big Brothers; planning begins for a national Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization.
1914
1917
The first national conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations is held in Grand Rapids, MI.
1958
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami is incorporated.
Big Brothers Association is chartered by Congress.1958
Late 1960s
Big Sisters program begins in Miami.
1970
Big Sisters International is incorporated.
1970
1972
Big Brothers of Miami and Big Sisters of Miami merge to create Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami.
1988
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami celebrates serving 12,600 youth since incorporation.
1988
1990
Group Mentoring Program for children on the wait list begins in Miami.
1995
Public/Private Ventures Study on Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Mentoring shows measurable, positive results on youth who have a Big Brother or Sister, seminal research in the field of youth mentoring.
1995
1996
School-based mentoring at two Miami-Dade County Public Schools begins in Miami.
1998
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami celebrates serving 28,200 youth since incorporation.
Big Brothers Big Sisters International is founded.1998
2004
School to Work workplace mentoring program begins in Miami.
2006
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America recognizes BBBS Miami as having the Board of the Year.
2006
2007
The Five Millers Family Foundation Continuing Education Scholarship Program launched in Miami.
Public/Private Ventures conducts a study on Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based Mentoring program, reinforcing the value of strong, long-lasting relationships and leading to program enhancements.2008
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami celebrates serving 42,500 youth since incorporation.
2008
2010
The BIG Foundation launched.
2011
Bigs in Blue launches, matching youth and law enforcement professionals in Miami.
2011
2012
In January, Big Brothers Big Sisters releases first-ever, nationwide Youth Outcomes Survey (YOS) Report, which reflects the collective progress and success in three outcome areas known to significantly change the lives of children for the better, forever – educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, and socio-emotional competency.
2013
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami is named the #1 BBBS agency in Florida and a top 20 BBBS agency nationwide.
2013
2014
Carnival Foundation donates $5 million for new BBBSM headquarters.
2016
The Carnival Center for Excellence opens as the new BBBSM headquarters in Miami.
2016
2017
BBBSM receives the National Program Quality Award for the fourth year.
2018
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami celebrates 60 years of helping 65,000+ Littles in Miami Dade County.
2018
2019
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami rebrands with a new look and a new message to empower, ignite, and defend the potential of youth in Miami.