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HISTORY
The idea for a Big Brothers program was developed in 1904 by Ernest
K. Coulter, a clerk in the first-ever Children's Court in New York
City. He noticed that thousands of children passed through the
court and were dealt with in accordance with the law, but little
concern was shown for their personal problems or circumstances.
Many went back to the streets only to return again and again to
the court.
On December 3, 1904, Coulter addressed the Men's Club of the Central
Presbyterian Church of New York. He told these area businessmen,
professionals, and community leaders a story about a young boy who
had just been brought to the Children's Court for an offense that
would, upon conviction, send him to a reformatory for 18 months.
"There is only one possible way to save that youngster," Coulter
said, "and that is to have some earnest, true man volunteer to be
his big brother, to look after him, help him to do right, make the
little chap feel there is at least one human being in this great
city who takes a personal interest in him; who cares whether he
lives or dies. I call for a volunteer.'" (One-To-One, George L.
Beiswinger, 1985).
Thirty-nine men stepped forward that night and the rest is history.
Friends and acquaintances were encouraged to do the same for other
fatherless boys. They were soon dubbed "Big Brothers."
Similar local organizations were created, across the country. In
1946, 13 Big Brothers agencies from around the country formed a
national organization. Under the leadership of Charles Berwind,
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was headquartered in
Philadelphia, where it remains today.
The original documentation of our agency reads:
Big Brothers of Central Wisconsin, operating in Wood County, was
accepted as an accredited agency of Big Brothers of America
yesterday by action of the National Board of Directors of Big
Brothers of America at its May 21st 1967, meeting in Toronto,
Ontario. "I know I speak for all of our Board Members and Director
in voicing our deep satisfaction at having achieved official
acceptance as a member agency of Big Brothers of America--Unites
States and Canada," said Fred Gaertner, Port Edwards, President of
Big Brothers of Central Wisconsin. "We have all worked hard to
establish a good Big Brother agency in this community and are
pleased that our efforts have brought us to this point."
Big Brothers of America sets high standards of local leadership,
professional staff and excellence of work accomplished for fatherless
boys that must be met before a new member agency can be accepted
into membership. The Big Brother program provides a unique child
welfare service which combines the friendship of an adult male
volunteer aided by a trained social worker to help a boy who lacks
the guidance of a father.
Big Brothers of Central Wisconsin had its beginning 7 months ago
when the Wood County Community Action Program approved a budget
and appointed a director to assess the need and inaugurate the
program. In December of last year a Board of Directors was selected,
and this board has guided the organizational phases of the program.
At present (1967) about 15-20 men in the county have applied to be
Big Brother Volunteers and are in various stages of the study
process. Thirty-one "Little Brothers" have been referred. First
matching of a man and a boy will occur within the next two weeks,
with progressively more matches in ensuing weeks and months.
Today, BBBS of Wood County has over 40 men and women that have
volunteered to be Big Brothers or Big Sisters in our Traditional
Program, and almost 125 children will be matched throughout this
school year with a School Buddy Volunteer from our School Buddy
Program.
In 2007, Big Brothers Big Sister of Wood County will celebrate our
40th Anniversary of building a better community, one child at a time.
Feel free to contact us
with questions and/or comments.
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