Big Sisters of Rhode Island was established in 1966 as an all-volunteer mentoring organization dedicated to addressing the specific needs of girls at risk. Originally, Big Sisters offered one program, Traditional Mentoring, to match trained, adult female mentors with at-risk girls across the state. Today, we offer many programs to meet the diverse needs of our Little Sister and Little Brother population.

In addition to traditional one-to-one mentoring, we also teach inner city children to make healthy decisions, instruct children at the Rhode Island Training School to conduct conflict resolution workshops, engage high school and college students as mentors to younger children, provide mentors to children with incarcerated parents, and outreach to the Latino community to pair Latina children with mentors who share their culture and traditions.

Big Sisters of Rhode Island is affiliated with our national organization Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, known for its standards of excellence in mentoring programs. In fact, President Bush recognized the organization as the “premiere mentoring organization in the country,” during a January 2003 news conference at which he reiterated his strong support of mentoring.

Nationally, 88% of Americans recognize the name Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the American Brands Council has selected the brand as one of America’s Greatest Brands. (America’s Greatest Brands, v.5, Stephen P Smith, 2006.)

 

Timeline

1966	The Big Sister Association of Rhode Island is incorporated as a non-profit organization with an all-volunteer staff.
1967	Big Sisters becomes part of the well-known and respected organization Family Service, Inc.
1985	Big Sisters separates from Family Service and incorporates again as a non-profit organization with offices on Broad Street in Cranston.
1997	The Big Sisters Fund is incorporated as a solely owned subsidiary of Big Sisters of Rhode Island (separate 501(c) 3). More commonly known as the Donation Center, the Fund is formed to collect gently used clothing and household items in an effort to help fund the Big Sisters agency and its programs.
1999	Big Sisters launches Life Choices, a curriculum-based program that teaches young girls how to make healthy decisions.
2001	Big Sisters celebrates the first $1 million in funds raised through the Donation Center and their partnership with Savers thrift stores.
2003	Big Sisters moves to Webb Street in Cranston. Donation Center expands community outreach to introduce clothing drives at local schools, businesses, and organizations.
2004	Big Sisters continues to grow and reach out to more girls at risk. The Agency moves to the Ross Simons plaza on Route 5 in Warwick and introduces the Amachi program, which provides mentors to girls with incarcerated parents.
2006	Big Sisters partners with the Rhode Island Training School and Rhode Island Juvenile Justice Commission to offer the RITS 4 Women program.
2007	The Donation Center celebrates its 10th anniversary and the Agency celebrates its 40th Anniversary!
2008	Big Sisters of Rhode Island brings both the mentoring agency and the Donation Center under sole leadership and one roof. The new facilities are located at 1540 Pontiac Avenue in Cranston.
2009	Big Sisters holds Open House providing music, refreshments, and tours of its new facilities. The organization launches its newly redesigned website.
2010	Big Sisters begins serving all at-risk children--girls and boys.