WHO WE ARE
For more than 30 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois (BBBSCIL) has empowered young people across Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Morgan, Piatt, Sangamon, and Vermilion counties through the power of mentorship.
By building strong, supportive one-to-one relationships, BBBSCIL helps youth discover their strengths, reach their potential, and thrive at home, in school, and in their communities.
Our programs provide guidance and stability that set young people on positive paths and create lasting outcomes for their futures.
How We Serve Our Community
1 — Real Relationships. Real Impact.
Matches connect outside school hours to build trusted, life-changing relationships that help youth grow, thrive, and dream bigger. → Be the difference. Become a mentor.
2 — Consistency Where It Counts
Bigs show up weekly during the school day, offering steady encouragement that strengthens confidence, connection, and academic engagement. → Show up. Change a life.
3 — Safe. Supported. Proven.
Every match is backed by rigorous screening, professional training, & ongoing support—ensuring relationships that are safe, intentional, & effective. → Invest in quality mentorship.
4 — Youth at the Center
We serve youth facing social and academic challenges, surrounding them with advocacy, opportunity, and belief in their potential. → Help us reach more youth.
Making a Difference
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois, we provide children with the hope and guidance they need to reach their full potential as responsible, successful adults. Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our vision is that all youth achieve their full potential.
Recognised as the "gold standard" in youth mentoring, our evidence-based approach is proven to foster well-being and prevent negative behaviours. Beyond the statistics, our matches help children grow more confident and build stronger, more effective relationships within their families.
46%
Less likely to begin using illegal drugs.
27%
Less likely to begin using alcohol.
52%
Less likely to skip school.
33%
Less likely to skip school.
Board of Directors
Maggie Comeford
ADM
Danny Williams
Busey Bank
Matt Whitehead
GJ Builders
Autumn Boliard
ADM
Ellie Winder
Wells Fargo
Terrance Jordan
Springfield School District 186
Natalie Ferriozzi
Kirby Medical Center
Jeff Mays
Ameren
Connor Fitch
Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP
Jason Olaughlin
Brinkoetter Realtors
Kearon Cole
Decatur Fire Department
Our Staff
Meet the hard-working and inspiring team of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois.
OUR HISTORY
In 1904, Ernest Coulter founded what is now Big Brothers Big Sisters. A military veteran, lawyer, journalist, and human welfare advocate, Coulter dedicated his life to public service.
Ernest Coulter, a young New York City court clerk, was seeing more and more boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these kids stay out of trouble, and he set out to find volunteers. That marked the beginning of the Big Brothers movement.
At around the same time, the members of a group called Ladies of Charity were befriending girls who had come through the New York Children’s Court. That group would later become Catholic Big Sisters.
In 1977, the groups joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Locally Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois was established in Macon County in 1987 and began as part of a YMCA-sponsored organization. In 1992, a full-time Executive Director was hired and in 1995, we became an independent organization and a full affiliate agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Over the last 30 years the agency has expanded from a program serving 25 children per year in Decatur to serving 250 children annually. The organization has also expanded to include eight additional counties serving over 650 families annually.