Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas (BBBSST) works with hundreds of local community partners that provide 3 critical components integral for us to provide effective programming. We simply could not achieve our mission without these partnerships.
Volunteer source partners provide access to volunteer recruitment rich opportunities such as local businesses, colleges/universities, military groups and membership organizations. A few examples are: NuStar, UT Health Science Center, Southwest Research Institute, the San Antonio Manufacturing Association, and the Police Officer’s Association.
Referral partners connect students and parents to our program. Examples of include schools, other non-profit organizations, law enforcement, the court system, child protective services, and mental health entities. A few examples are ChildSafe, Family Violence Prevention Services, Communities in Schools, and Baptist Child & Family Services.
Service provider partners including other nonprofit and governmental entities provide our parents and students with services that are outside the scope of our mentoring programming such as food stamps, utility assistance, counseling, victim aid, financial aid, or GED counseling. A few examples are Goodwill, the Food Bank, Café College and the San Antonio Education Partnership, the San Antonio Housing Authority, and the United Way.
BBBSST not only conducts over 50 events a year to generate awareness, such as campaigns, fundraisers, and participant activities, but also contributes to over 100 activities related to our partner relationships every year including conducting United Way presentations, manning information booths, serving on community issue committees, and attending partner events.