Local program to operate as part of one of the nation’s leading and largest one-to-one mentoring programs.

Boston and New Bedford, September 27, 2017 – The Board of Directors of Child & Family Services in New Bedford and the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay today announced that the Child & Family Services’ Big Brothers Big Sisters program in New Bedford will operate under the leadership and auspices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay effective October 1, 2017. The premier mentoring program in the Greater New Bedford area will continue to thrive under Big Brother Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay’s leadership and realize additional resources and benefits as a result of this partnership.

Recently, a more competitive donor environment caused fiscal constraints, and Child & Family Services’ administration and Board of Directors engaged in strategic planning to determine an alternate service provider to take over the program. To ensure for the stability, sustainability, and growth of the program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Child & Family Services entered into an agreement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay to continue this great program in the New Bedford community.

“We are confident that the transition with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay will be seamless; the children and volunteers will continue to receive quality support, and the program will be able to attain fiscal stability to run for the next 100 years,” said Anne Sampaio, Executive Director of Child & Family Services. “We would like to thank all of our generous and dedicated supporters; individuals, groups, corporations and companies large and small who have supported the program over the past 44 years as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay for their commitment to the program.”

Founded in 1949, the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is to partner with under-resourced families to provide their children with transformational, one-to-one professionally-supported relationships with caring adult mentors, so that their children will thrive. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is one of the nation’s leading and largest one-to-one mentoring programs that recently successfully completed an ambitious five-year plan that led to a growth in service to youth of 54% to 2,748 children this past year as well as substantial growth in revenue and staff. The agency has just launched its next 5-year plan with a goal to increase children served by 80% to 5,000 children.

Founded in 1973, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Child & Family Services has provided a premier mentoring opportunity to the children and adult volunteers in the Greater New Bedford area. For nearly 44 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Child & Family Services has matched thousands of youth with mentors who transform child’s lives by helping them succeed in school and in life.

“As an agency that is dedicated to serving under-resourced families and growing our service to help meet the needs of communities across the region, we are thrilled to be able to serve the Greater New Bedford area and help continue the great legacy and impact that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Child & Family Services has had on the community,” said Wendy Foster, President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. “As we continue to scale our service in a sustainable, high-quality manner, we look forward to serving the current youth, volunteers and partners in the region, while seeking to develop creative new partnerships to help get more local youth paired with a caring adult mentor.”

About Child & Family Services

Child & Family Services, Inc. is a private, nonprofit, human service agency that provides adoption services, mental health counseling, psychiatry and specialized support programs to people of all ages living in Greater New Bedford, Greater Fall River, Cape Cod, Lawrence, Florence, Plymouth, Worcester and Somerville. We have been helping people since 1843 and continue to fulfill our mission “…to heal and strengthen the lives of children and families.” For more information, visit https://child-familyservices.org/

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of 2,700 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay is working to ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Massachusetts Bay by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, brighter futures and stronger communities.

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Media contact:

Jen Kaye
Version 2.0 Communications for Big Brothers Big Sisters Massachusetts Bay
jkaye@v2comms.com
617-426-2222