Big Brothers Big Sisters of Richland County

In 1991, a feasibility study determined that Richland County had 250 youth in need of a Big Brother/Big Sister.  Therefore, Gary Cowan, Cindy Pettry and Tom and Jean Weber founded Big Brothers Big Sisters of Richland County. 

The community-based program has been ongoing since the inception, matching an adult with a youth 3 to 4 hours a week building a one-on-one relationship.  With four youth on our waiting list, we currently have a need for four Big Brothers.

In 2001, we began offering an additional program, our school-based “Mentoring Minutes”, which now serves 150 youth in Olney, Noble, Clay City and Mt. Carmel.  Adults are matched with a child, 1 hour a week at school, working on academics and social skills.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Ernest Coulter founded Big Brothers Big Sisters in New York City in 1904.  Coulter, a clerk of the Juvenile Court at the time, was appalled by the suffering of the thousands of children who repeatedly came through the court system.  At a meeting of civic and business leaders on December 4, 1904, Coulter appealed to those present to take on the role of a "Big Brother."  All 39 men present stepped forward, creating the movement that is now "Big Brothers Big Sisters".  In the decades to follow, Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs sprang up throughout the country and today, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the leading youth mentoring organization in the United States.  For further information concerning the national organization:  www.bbbsa.org

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Richland County

801 S. West Street, Suite 117

P.O. Drawer D

Olney, IL  62450

Telephone:  (618) 392-3863