Breakthrough Study Finds Adults Mentored as Children in Big Brothers Big Sisters Are Better Educated and Wealthier Than Peers

"One of the most effective strategies for successful fundraising is to demonstrate the long-term value of our program," Vredenburgh said. "Foundations, individuals, corporations and public funders want to invest in programs proven to change lives and break cycles of poverty."

A little more than half of the alumni Littles who participated in the study grew up in single-parent homes (52%) and described their childhood financial situation as worse off than the average American household (51%). The Big Brothers Big Sisters alumni reported that having a "Big" in their lives positively influenced their self confidence, provided stability and changed their perspectives on life, taught them new things, influenced aspects of their education, pushing them to set higher goals and make better decisions.