Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire

Thank you for celebrating a decade of impact with us!

Because of the generosity of people like you, we’re able to ignite potential in our community through mentorship.

Big Brothers Big Sisters NFL Watch Party!
Catch a game with former NFL players and discover how you can make an impact as a mentor. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today! iebigs.org/mentormixer

Swipe to meet the players:
🏈 Walter Thurmond III - Super Bowl Champion, Seattle Seahawks & VP of SoCal NFL Alumni Association
🏈 James Washington - 2x Super Bowl Champion, Dallas Cowboys; Vice Chair, NFL Alumni Association & President of the Rose Bowl Institute
🏈 Dave Des Rochers - Former Seattle Seahawk
🏈 Drew Davis - Former Atlanta Falcon

Little Sister Maryfer struggled with social skills and communication, often feeling unmotivated and disengaged. Her mom turned to Big Brothers Big Sisters for help, and after being paired with Big Sister Andrea, everything began to change. Andrea’s encouragement helped Maryfer gain confidence, make new friends, and improve her social skills. Their bond has been transformative for both—Andrea has found healing and personal growth through mentoring, while Maryfer has learned the power of trust and communication. Together, they’re creating lasting positive change. 💚

Step up and make a lasting impact by becoming a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. By volunteering just a few hours each month, you can help a young person build confidence, develop new skills, and unlock their potential. Be the role model they need—be their game-changer. 💚

Sign up today and start making a difference! www.iebigs.org/volunteer

Thanks to a generous donor, we sent four incredible matches to watch the LA Rams take on the 49ers and Packers at SoFi Stadium! Each match selected has consistently shown dedication to our program, from supporting marketing campaigns to participating in events like the Mental Health Summit.

A special shout-out to Big Brother Quintin, who drove over 350 miles to ensure his Little Brother Felix, a huge Rams fan, could experience the game live! 🏈💙

With hundreds of youth on our waitlist and volunteerism on the decline statewide, we're calling on our champions to connect us to passionate people in your network who would make great mentors.

🏆 Sign up at www.iebigs.org/refer to get your unique referral link
🏆 Share your link & your story to encourage others to become Bigs
🏆 When a friend completes their volunteer interview, you receive a $100 thank you, and they'll get $50!

Help our mission, connect your friends to a life-changing experience, and earn BIG bucks. It’s a win-win-win!

Last month, we took 22 matches to Dana Point Harbor for a fun-filled day of kayaking and sailing! Everyone was thrilled to be on the water, especially with the hot weather.

Thanks to our partners at Westwind Sailing, all matches enjoyed 45 minutes of sailing and 45 minutes of kayaking. Little Sister Ayla shared that it was her first time kayaking—and she even spotted a stingray! 🌊 ☀️⛵

Thank you California State Coastal Conservancy for partnering with us to continue providing hands-on and immersive ocean science experiences to the youth in our program.

Every child deserves a winning coach! Join Big Brothers Big Sisters and the NFL Alumni Association for an unforgettable watch party at Lake Alice Trading Co. in Riverside on Sunday, November 3, 2024.

Meet legendary former players like Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champion Walter Thurmond III and learn how you can become a game-changing mentor.

Enjoy great food, drinks, and all the NFL action you can handle. Seats are limited, so secure your spot today! 🏈 https://www.iebigs.org/mentormixer/

Big Brother Shawn and Little Brother Eloy are approaching two years together in the program, building a genuine and healthy bond along the way. Shawn has been an incredible support for his Little and his family, providing a positive outlet and always showing up. From cheering at his Little's basketball games to taking him to his first professional soccer match, Shawn continues to make a meaningful impact.

Tevin and Camille have been matched in the High School Bigs program for over a year and were thrilled to reunite at the High School Bigs Summer Picnic. Although they enjoyed the summer break, it's always great to see our matches excited for a new school year and ready to start their regular meetings again!

Share with us what “Being a mentor means” / “Ser un mentor significa” to you. Drop a comment or post your thoughts, and we’ll be highlighting and reposting your stories all month long!

Coffee for a cause! ☕️

Tomorrow, September 20th Dutch Bros Coffee in will donate $1 from every drink sold to support Big Brother Big SIsters of the Inland Empire. Grab your favorite brew and join us in making a difference!

Participating Dutch Brothers locations: Rialto, Fontana, Yucaipa, Redlands and Beaumont

We are hosting a Birthday Bash to celebrate 10 years in the Inland Empire with our community of supporters who have made it all possible.

Join us at OctoClean for casino tables, tacos, and a live band on October 17th at 6 pm!

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more, visit https://www.iebigs.org/birthday/

The best part about being a Big? The fun continues all year round, even after summer ends! ☀️ Check out these great outing ideas to enjoy with your Little: mini-golf, go-karts, grabbing ice cream, visiting the park, or catching a movie.

Keep making those last memories!

Our latest workshop gave Littles and High School Bigs a chance to explore college vs. university options, identify career paths, and learn about the educational steps needed for each! Through hands-on activities, participants discovered key factors for choosing a school and useful tools for career research. We also covered strategies for making college affordable. Community Bigs shared their personal college journeys and tips on overcoming financial challenges. A big step toward a bright future!

Bank of America is helping drive our mission to ignite the power and promise of the next generation forward in the Inland Empire. We’re so grateful to receive the bank’s support to empower us to continue helping the community.

Our recent workshop, Aligning Ambitions: Mapping Your Career to Your Ideal Lifestyle Workshop empowered young adults to explore different career options guided by their Bigs.

Participants received insights into salary, education requirements, and projected take-home pay. They then budgeted for real-life expenses like housing, student loans, and entertainment to see how their chosen careers align with their future goals.

A highlight was hearing from Big Brother Erik Mattern, Managing Director at Wells Fargo, who shared valuable tips on investing and financial planning. It was an eye-opening experience for all, as Littles learned how to balance lifestyle aspirations with practical financial decisions.

Thank you to ECMC Foundation for making this workshop possible for our youth!

Becoming a mentor gives you a wonderful chance to have a positive impact on a child’s future. You can help them achieve their full potential and reach heights they never thought possible. Not only is it a rewarding experience, it’s also a lot of fun.

Learn more at iebigs.org

Brittnee has been a constant source of support for her Little Sister, Saphira, despite her busy schedule. Brittnee makes every outing special, whether it's enjoying boba, feeding ducks, or catching an Angels game.

Their relationship is the perfect example of "It Takes Little to be Big!"

We're excited to share our first billboard at the Outlets of Orange, showcasing our message: 'BE THE MVP IN A KID'S LIFE.'

Whether you're a high school student, have time for traditional mentoring, or prefer to volunteer through your workplace, there's an opportunity to make a real impact. Sign up today and be the change in a young person's life. 💚

Visit https://www.iebigs.org/volunteer to learn more and sign up!

Thank you for joining us for BBBS Day at the OC Fair! Our matches had a fantastic time, from racing on the bumper cars to winning at carnival games. Seeing a sea of lime-green BBBS hats throughout the fair was incredible!

From humble beginnings to a decade of impact, our youth mentoring programs have paved the way for countless success stories across the Inland Empire. Join us to honor the journey as we continue on a bold path to an even brighter future.

Thursday, October 17, 2024
5:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Big Brother JP and Little Brother Peyton have been matched for two incredible years. During this time, JP has played a pivotal role in Peyton's emotional and personal growth, offering guidance and a strong support system not just for Peyton, but for his entire family. Through JP’s mentorship, Peyton has gained confidence and maturity, finding in JP a male role model to look up to and grow with.

🎒 Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of hosting our Annual Backpack Drive, where we served 30 families and distributed over 65 backpacks to our community. A heartfelt thank you to the National Charity League (NCL) for their generous donation of supplies and support in making this event a success.

Families enjoyed picking out their favorite backpacks while we created a warm, welcoming atmosphere with coffee, conchas, and donuts. One grateful mother shared, "I had a hard time buying all four kids everything they needed. This was a big help for my family."