Since 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is incredible potential. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 7 through young adulthood in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
LOCAL HISTORY
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin started as an unofficial, part-time Big Brothers program in 1972 with no national affiliation. With help from the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brown County was founded in 1977 and affiliated with the national Big Brothers Big Sisters movement. In 1983, BBBS of Brown County absorbed a similar YWCA Big Sister program that began in 1974.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brown County changed its name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Wisconsin in 1983. Service to Oconto County began in 1985, service to Door County began in 2001 and service to Shawano County began in September of 2014.
In 2018, BBBSNEW changed its name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin. In 2019, the agency moved its administrative offices from its longtime home at 1345 W. Mason Street in Green Bay, to the Broadway District of downtown in a renovated former cannery warehouse at 520 N. Broadway St., Suite 220.