Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. is Excited to Officially Welcome New Member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington, to our Organization!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington is a mentoring organization serving youth across five counties in SW Washington. Their mission is to create and support 1-to-1 mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. They have an office in Hoquiam’s Vasa Hall and are launching their program in Grays Harbor County.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is celebrating 120 years this year! For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been helping change kids’ perspectives and giving them the opportunity to reach their potential. And we have more than a century of volunteers, donors, and advocates just like you to thank.

It all started in 1904, when a young New York City court clerk named Ernest Coulter 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.

One aspect of Big Brothers Big Sisters that’s truly special is the personalized, 1-to-1 support their mentors provide. Each mentor is carefully matched with a mentee based on shared interests and goals, ensuring a strong, meaningful connection that lasts. Another standout aspect is their deep commitment to community building—the mentors are local volunteers who are dedicated to giving back and creating positive, lasting change in the lives of young people right here in our community.

Grays Harbor Programs Include:

Career Mentoring: High school youth get matched with a professional in the forestry industry and meet once a month at Grays Harbor College during the school year. Each month a professional from the industry speaks on a different topic. After the presentation, matches have a snack and spend time connecting and developing a mentoring relationship.
Community Based Mentoring: Big Brothers Big Sisters is grateful to have received funding from Grays Harbor County to match five youth in Hoquiam in their Community Based Program. In this program, mentors and youth get together 2-4 times a month and engage in activities they both enjoy in the community.  Youth are ages 5-18 and Mentors are 18+. Matches might go for a hike, go fishing, play a sport, cook a meal together, or go to a local community event.

Have you ever wanted to be someone’s guide, cheerleader, and biggest fan? That’s what mentoring is all about! By becoming a mentor, you’ll get to share your experiences, offer advice, and help shape the next generation of leaders. You’ll have fun building a unique bond with your mentee, while learning new things about yourself too!

Plus, mentoring isn’t just good for them—it’s good for you! You’ll grow as a leader, make a difference in your community, and maybe even pick up some new perspectives along the way.

Ready to make a lasting impact? Join Big Brothers Big Sisters and become a mentor today! Learn more at: https://swwabigs.org  or by visiting their Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.