News & Stories

We are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and are taking steps to minimize the impact of an outbreak.

The Big Draft is here.  You’re on the clock! We’re thrilled to announce the Big Draft Recruitment Campaign! While the NFL is drafting its next players, we want to engage our community to help us draft the next generation of Bigs. This recruitment campaign stems from the BBBS partnership with the NFL Inspire Change Initiative. The goal of that program is to advance the national conversation and progress on social justice and to create positive change in communities across the country. The NFL supports our efforts to break down barriers and build stronger communities through our mentoring program.  From Feb. 9 – April 25, 2020 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara and the Southern Tier is following the NFL draft, aiming to recruit potential…

Holiday Corporate Partnerships  Urban Outfitters Partners With BBBS During the Holidays! In honor of Giving Tuesday, Urban Outfitters will donate 100% of the proceeds of reusable gift wrap sales sold in store and online, between December 1-31, 2019, to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Click here to download the list of stores that will be carrying the gift wrap, which will also be available online at www.UrbanOutfiters.com Urban Outfitters, Inc., is a lifestyle product and services company, that has a long standing partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence. The relationship began after one of their employees participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters, first as a Little and then as a Big. As a result, Urban Outfitters decided to start a program where a number…

Lasting Legacy of Friendship Big Sister Continues to Support Agency After Passing Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie, Niagara and the Southern Tier recently celebrated a thoughtful legacy gift made by long-time Big Sister, Janet McMahon, who recently passed away. Janet made one more gift to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to honor her lifetime commitment to helping children reach their full potential. With Janet’s gift, six local “Littles” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program were chosen to receive a gift card to purchase school supplies with their Big Brother or Big Sister for the new school year. “A’laysia and I had a wonderful time shopping for school supplies for her first day of first grade. She told me she hasn’t gotten…

ATTENTION Bigs and Littles!     Unfortunately due to weather we have to POSTPONE our Welcome Summer Picnic that was scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) June 20th!     Stay tuned for a new date from your Case Manager!   Please contact them with any questions.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Professional Development Opportunity! Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at AcQua Restaurant & Banquet 2192 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14207 Registration – 7:30AM   Training – 8:00AM-9:30AM $ 30 Early Bird (Through 5/24) / $40 Regular Registration   Click here to register!     Questions? Please Contact Ashley Griffin 716-873-5833 Ext 243 or agriffin@beafriend.org

Kennedy Colon – Defender of Potential Kennedy Colon is a graduating Senior at the University at Buffalo where she studies Civil Engineering and is the current President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Collegiate Chapter. Through her affiliation with NSBE and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) she actively searches and engages in any form of volunteerism as a way to serve her community, if there is no opportunity present she will create one. Under Kennedy’s Leadership her NSBE Chapter has won the Chapter of the Fall 2018 Semester for Region 1 and most recently the Silver torch award for conducting the most technical events/outreach in the Region. For the Academic year 2018-2019 she has devoted her time to creating a pipeline…