Our Bigs come from diverse backgrounds just like our Littles. They are regular people, just like you. You don’t need any special degrees or job skills. You just have to want to positively impact a young person. Role models come in all shapes and sizes, and you could be a perfect fit.

In order to apply to be a Big, you must be over the age of 18 and able to commit to meeting with your Little a couple of times a month for at least one year. We also ask that you:

• have reliable transportation
• plan to live at your address for at least 1 year
• consent to a criminal background check
• be drug-free
• live in our service area: Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta is proud to announce the incorporation of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chattahoochee Valley into their operations, effective February 19, 2024. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Chattahoochee Valley serves the following counties:

  • Chattahoochee
  • Harris
  • Marion
  • Meriwether
  • Muscogee
  • Talbot
  • Troup
  • Chambers (Alabama)
  • Lee (Alabama)
  • Russell (Alabama)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta is seeking volunteers who share BBBSMA’s commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We understand each person will bring their own unconscious biases and lived experiences into a mentoring relationship. We encourage volunteers to seek to overcome their unconscious biases and strive to embody the following traits:

• Commitment to carrying out our mission of defending and affirming the potential of all youth, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ideology, socioeconomic status, national origin, race or sexual orientation.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive and safe space for their Little to feel comfortable being their authentic self.
• Commitment to social and economic justice regarding ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ideology, socioeconomic status, national origin, race or sexual orientation.
• Recognize that structural racism/ethnic discrimination and other forms of oppression have contributed to persistent disparities among communities in Metro Atlanta.
• Unequivocally denounce racism and discrimination in terms of gender, sexuality, ability, socioeconomic status, and age, because it undermines the well-being and vitality of our families.
• Openness and desire for continuous learning and personal development, with regards to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

The Littles in our program come from a variety of backgrounds and have many different interests. Our interview process will help to match you with your perfect Little.

We match children ages 8-16 and they remain a part of the program until high school graduation. 81% are black, 71% come from single parent homes, 85% are low-income, 84% qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 52% has a family member who has been incarcerated.

93% maintained or improved a sense of social acceptance, 88% of high school seniors graduated on time, 93% of graduating seniors reported plans to pursue post-secondary education or the military, and 97% avoided the juvenile justice system.

As a Big/Little team, you decide together what you want to do and then your Little gets approval from his or her parent. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule of outings and get together on a regular basis. Your local agency will provide more guidance on this. The outings will also depend on the comfort level of your Little’s parents, your Little, and you.

The quality of the time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. That’s why we don’t encourage spending a lot of money on your outings. The goal of the relationship is to help your Little see the world through a different lens so you can inspire your Little to become something they never thought possible. If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning. Play a game together or share that pizza that you were going to have for lunch anyway. As a Big, you may also receive notices for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy.

Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. Go to the library, check out a book and read together. Buy a comic book to read together. Play a board game. Go on a nature walk. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the local driving range. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!

Once you are matched with your Little, a Match Support Specialist from the agency will be in regular contact with you to provide assistance and give feedback. Any time you are unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, you will have a Match Support Specialist there to help. They’ll help you with ideas for activities, guidance for handling possible difficult situations, and feedback on how you are making a difference.

A Big Couple is a pair of Bigs who are married and want to be matched together to the same Little Brother. This a great option for couples that would prefer a shared experience as opposed to each of them having their own Little. The benefit of a Big Couple is that the child gets to build a relationship with both parties and gain different perspectives from his mentors.

Head to our Donate and Events pages and read about ways you can financially support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta - our mission, our cause and our kids.

Absolutely! Whenever you are interested in having one of our agency representatives share our mission with others, contact us. We can provide audio-visual presentations, videos, speeches, e-presentations and materials about Big Brothers Big Sisters. Contact us at 404-601-7000.

BBBSMA is active on social media! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.