Our History
Impacting the lives of children for over 60 years
National History
Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated for more than 100 years nationally and 60 locally, based on the belief that the ability to succeed and thrive in life is inherent in every child.
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”) in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
Learn about the passionate visionaries who founded Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County:
Local History
In 1961, in the elevator of the U.S. Grant Hotel, San Diego Union writer Frank Rhodes asked Mr. Jack Levin about the meaning behind his lapel pin. Hours later, the men were still discussing the Big Brothers of Los Angeles agencies and their mission to mentor young men facing adversity.
Realizing no such agency existed locally, they became inspired to bring the Big Brothers concept to San Diego. Levin quickly asked his business partner, Ben Townes, to get involved, paving the way for the one-to-one mentoring model still serving the county.
Since that auspicious meeting, Big Brothers Big Sisters has served tens of thousands of children, providing them with caring mentors and, in many cases, changing their lives.
History of Big Brothers Big Sisters San Diego
1978
San Diego agency was incorporated into the National organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
1987
Big Sisters joined with Big Brothers of San Diego to create Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County
2004
Launched School-Based mentoring programs: Bigs in Schools and Operation Bigs
2006
Launched Amachi program for children of the incarcerated and Hermandad Initiative to serve Hispanic children
2006
Served over 1,000 children in the year for the first time in local history
2013
Launch of Beyond School Walls
2014
Moved local headquarters to City Heights
2015
Launch of Big Futures initiative
2016
Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County Board of Directors named Board of the Year among all Big Brothers Big Sisters Affiliates
2016
Launch of Healthy Futures enhancement programming and Ayana Chaldean Mentoring Program
2019
Expansion of service age of Littles to 21
2021
Celebration of our 60th year in San Diego
2023
Partnered with Jewish Family Services to launch the Jewish Pals initiative
2024
Launched Sports Bigs initiative; celebrated 20 years of Operation Bigs
