Women’s Giving Fund Grant Finalist 2018 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah

Award: $33,000 toward increasing staff capacity in Summit County for the purposes of matching at-risk youth with Big Brother and Sister mentors. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah (Summit & Wasatch counties) relies on a thorough and data-informed background, intake and matching process for volunteer mentors, parents/guardians, and children. Since the 2018 award, BBBSU’s impact in Summit County includes 157 matches in 2019 and 117 matches in 2020. These include 1^st – 12^th grade Littles, among whom 91% were from low-to-moderate-income households, 30% live with a single mother, 5% had an incarcerated parent. Bigs, Littles, and caregivers are asked to commit for a minimum of one year; average match length in 2020 is 36 months (about 3 years). Annual pre- and post-assessments are collected to measure: attitudes toward risky behaviors; juvenile justice involvement; school attendance; social acceptance; and important adult in life outside of parents. In 2019, outcomes revealed 100% of youth improved or maintained in at least 2 areas and 93% improved in 4 areas.