About Us

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a life changing preventive program that will ultimately reduce the need for possible future juvenile justice and school disciplinary intervention when the child is older and/or becomes an adult. There will always be a need for mentoring services as the number of single parents continues to grow within the county however, for those Littles that participate in the program the need for future intervention is greatly reduced.

In the words of Dr. Peter Benson of the Search Insitute,

"If Big Brothers Big Sister didn't exist; we'd have to reinvent it now."

History - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County was founded in 1997 by a group of community volunteers concerned about at-risk youth in Ocean County. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County is a not-for-profit youth agency, an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and a certified United Way Agency. The agency is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of volunteers committed to the vision of mission of the agency.

Community - Recognizing the need for awareness and foundation in the community we have strengthened our community recognition through membership/involvement in the following organizations, agencies and groups:
  • Ocean County Human Services Advisory Council
  • Ocean County Youth Services Commission
  • Ocean County Prevention of Child Abuse
  • Child Early Learning Council of Ocean County
  • Member of the Brick Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of the Toms River Ocean County Chamber of Commerce
  • Speakers Bureau for United Way of Ocean County
  • Big Brother Big Sisters State Association
We have a partnership with Naval Air Engineering Station in Lakehurst for our Military Mentoring Partnership. We have currently trained 30 Navy Officers to become Big Brother/Big Sisters in our community-based prgrams as well as a site-based program on the Base.


Recognition

    2006
  • Agency of the Year from the Brick Chamber of Commerce
  • Outstanding Agency for United Way Speakers Bureau
  • Women Helping Women Award from the Soroptimist of Toms River
    2007
  • Agency of the Year from Lakewood Chamber of Commerce
  • Partner of the Year by the Salvation Army
  • Board of the Year for the United from BBBS State Association
  • Kelly Hill, our Program Director, recieved the 2007 Director of the Year for the United States
  • Pinnacle Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for Outstanding Performance
    2008
  • Gold Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for ranking in top 10 in the United States
Our CEO, Sue Sedivec, has won Exceptional Woman of the Year from WJRZ in 2007, the Constance Weaver Award in 2003 and 2007 and has recently been named one of the Top 40 Movers and Shakers in Ocean County by the Asbury Park Press. Sue currently serves as President of the State Association of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Sue recently was awarded the "Hometown Heroes" award at a celebration at Hemingway's in Seaside Heights by the Toms River, Ocean County Chamber of Commerce.


Our Services

We mentor children, ages 5 to 17, throughout Ocean County. We provide Community-Based and School-Based Mentoring Programs.

Community-Based Mentoring helps build a cultivating relationship with a child by providing them with skills to manage every day challenges. Through simple friendships, children discover a world of possibilities and opportunities.

School-Based Mentoring focuses on creating an inviting environment in the child's school. As the High School Bigs and their Littles' friendship evolves, they both discover ways to make school and learning fun.

Did you know...


Our mentoring programs work! National research has shown that positive relationships between youth and their Big Brothers and Big Sisters have direct and measurable impact on children's lives. By participating in our youth mentoring programs, Little Brothers and Sister are:
  • More confident in their school work performance
  • Able to get along better with their families
  • 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
  • 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
  • 52% less likely to skip school