Nationally, Little Brothers and Sisters are:

More confident in their performance in school
Able to get along better with their families
46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
27% less likely to begin using alcohol
52% less likely to skip school

Locally, youth in BBBS of Mid-Maine mentoring experienced:

93% increase in self-confidence
92% increase in showing trust towards their mentor
89% increase in positive attitude towards school
87% increase in ability to express feelings

National research also shows high school Bigs benefit too:

47% had improved interpersonal skills
34% had improved personal skills (were more responsible, reliable and organized)
35% improved their leadership abilities
30% were more likely to volunteer in life as a result of the experience

Littles who are now adults are experiencing success in their lives:

86% said their relationship with their Big has helped them make better choices in their adult life.
90% said their Big provided stability when they needed it and changed their perspective on what they thought possible in life (81%).
65% agreed their Big helped them reach a higher level of education than they thought possible.

Little steps lead to a Big impact

With the help of a network of donors, partners, family members, and advocates, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine carefully matches children facing adversity with caring, positive role models. Research proves that children enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and friends, and less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol.

Success in education

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, we have confidence in our ability to impact children and put them on the right path. But it means even more when an outside study comes to the same conclusion.

Public/Private Ventures—a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the effectiveness of social policies, programs and community initiatives, especially as they affect youth and young adults—has carried out a thorough evaluation of the Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based Mentoring program. 

Higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships

Do you remember someone who encouraged you to believe in yourself, who encouraged you to work hard in school and in life? Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, with the help of donors, volunteers, partners, advocates and supporters, helps youth realize their greatest potential. Our programs encourage children to set higher goals for learning, improve their confidence in themselves, and help them have better, stronger relationships with their families, teachers and friends. 

How do we know?

At the heart of all that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine does is our steadfast commitment to measuring and refining our programs to ensure we are making the most effective and longest lasting impact possible. We hold ourselves accountable to the donors, partners, advocates, and families that make our work possible. We hold ourselves accountable to the hundreds of volunteers that are making a difference in the lives of children each and every day. And we hold ourselves accountable to a generation of children ready to be impacted by our programs.