History
Our Mission:
To enhance a child’s self esteem and outlook for the future by:
- facilitating a one to one relationship with an adult role model: and
- providing financial assistance for personal and scholastic needs.
History
In 1903, Irvin Westheimer, a 23-year-old businessman in Cincinnati saw a young boy and his dog scavenging through trash cans for food. Compelled by the sight of this boy, Irvin introduced himself and gave him a decent meal. He learned the boy's name was Tom, and that he was one of five children in a single-parent home. When Westheimer met Tom's mom and saw the impoverished state the family was in, he asked for permission to take Tom out on various outings. Tom's mom consented, and soon became a trusted mentor for the youth. Westheimer went on to found the Big Brother Association of Cincinnati 1910.
Meanwhile, in 1904, Ernest Coulter, New York newspaperman who left journalism to work in the city's first children's court, started his own crusade to foster adult-youth who came through his courts. Coulter became increasingly appalled by the suffering and misery displayed by the thousands of children who passed through the court every year. On December 3, 1904, Coulter appeared at a men's club of Central Presbyterian Church of New York which included a group of civic and business leaders. He told them about a youngster who was destined to be sentenced for 18 months in a reformatory for a petty offense. "There is only one way to save that youngster," began Coulter, "and that is to have some earnest, true man volunteer to be his big brother, look after him, help him to do right…" Every man in the room raised his hand. From that meeting 40 men signed up to initiate a relationship with a boy from the court caseload, including the boy Ernest had described; thus he had his first group of Big Brothers.
While the Big Brothers were forming, so were the Big Sisters. The Ladies of Charity on New York was one of the very first mentoring organizations aimed at girls. Shortly after New York Big Brothers was formed, the Ladies changed its name to Catholic Big Sisters in 1905. Its founder was Mrs. John O'Keefe, who is considered the first Big Sister.
In 1983 Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks was incorporated in Springfield, Missouri. The founding board included:
- Nancy & Larry O'Reilly
- Tom Barr
- Norb Bagley
- Stan Jinks
- Franklin Greene
- David O'Reilly
- Larry Dixon
- Katie Tynes
- Les Reynolds
- Dee Brooks
- Betty Israel
- Calvin Allen
- Steve Johnson
- Pam Mark
- Vivian Bruner
Since its inception BBBS of the Ozarks has added a satellite office in Branson, Missouri to serve the children of Stone and Taney counties. Through five unique one-to-one mentoring programs Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks now serves more than 800 at-risk children each year.