Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City
Encyclopedia
Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in New York City
, whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC is one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the United States, and has served over 100,000 children since its founding in 1904.
court clerk named Ernest Kent Coulter
was seeing many boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these boys stay out of trouble, so in 1904, he set out to find volunteers and made his famous plea:
"There is only one possible way to save that youngster, and that is to have some earnest, true man volunteer to be his big brother. To look after him, to help him do right, to make the little chap feel that 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."
That marked the beginning of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City and the Big Brothers movement.
When the first gentleman stood to volunteer, Big Brothers of New York City (the founding member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America) began. Coulter's audience, a New York City men's club of business and community leaders, immediately saw the strength of this brave new idea. By the end of the day, 39 men had volunteered, and thus 39 futures were salvaged.
By 1916, Big Brothers had spread to 96 cities across the country.
Eight years later, in June 1912, Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt helped to form the “Big Sisters” organization. In 1921, the Big Brother and Big Sister Federation incorporated in New York State.
For more than two decades, Allan has led major nonprofit institutions, receiving significant national and international recognition. He worked with the Alcoholism Council of New York, followed by The Institute for the Advancement of Health—focusing on how the mind affects the body, including the benefits experienced by helping others. In 1990, Allan became the Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, the oldest and largest mentoring organization.
Allan initiated and led the campaigns for the successful adoption of three laws, one of which saves lives, another that saves jobs every day, and one that protects children.
Allan has been recognized by many organizations and media over the years, including:
Allan is also the author of many books, including The Healing Power of Doing Good, Will America Sober Up and Having Been There.
Recently, Allan established the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Fordham University, the first center sponsored by both a graduate school of business and graduate school of social service. The Center is the brainchild of Allan Luks, who also serves as its director. It is an intensive and comprehensive program that offers top-notch executive education for leaders and leaders-to-be of nonprofit groups.
Currently Allan is a Senior Advisor for BBBS of NYC, and is a member of several Boards of Trustees for nonprofit organizations.
He was appointed to New York State Supreme Court (1989–90) and also served as a Judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York (1980–89). He lectured on criminal justice as an Adjunct Professor at Pace University (1976–94) and was an Assistant District Attorney for New York County (1969–73). He subsequently specialized as a private practitioner in all phases of criminal law (1973–80). Judge Corriero was also Assistant General Counsel to the Society of European Songwriters, Authors and Composers; a Legislative Assistant; and an Associate at Schiffmacher, Rochford & Cullen, a firm that specialized in municipal law.
Judge Corriero is an alumnus of St. John’s University School of Law (1967) and St. John’s University (1964). He graduated from St. John’s University College with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in social science. He was a member of the Law Review and served as an associate editor.
Judge Corriero is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Citizens’ Committee for Children’s Annual Founders’ Award (2004); The Howard A. Levine Award for Outstanding Work in the area of children and the law (New York State Bar Association 1999); The Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award (American Bar Association 1997); Outstanding Service on Behalf of Youth Award (ELEM 1996); The Conrad B. Mattox, Jr. Commonwealth Debate Winner (University of Richmond 1996); The Charles A. Rapallo Award (Colombian Lawyers Association 1994); and he participated as a Polsky Judicial Fellow at the Aspen Institute’s Justice and Society Seminar (2003).
“The significant focus of my presidency will be to raise funds to help this 105-year old agency continue and expand its mission,” says May. “The changes in the economy have severely impacted charities and families. We will become more aggressive, more imaginative and more efficient in our search for funds to reach the 600,000 NYC children who would benefit from a BigsNYC mentor and a social worker, if only the chance was presented to them.”
Bronx and Queens Borough Partnership Program Youth who reside in under served neighborhoods in the Bronx and Queens meet with their mentors to explore their own, as well as other communities.
School-Based Meet regularly at lunchtime at a school to spend time with a youth, helping with homework, discussing areas of interest, etc.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC is one of the oldest and largest youth mentoring organizations in the United States, and has served over 100,000 children since its founding in 1904.
History
In 1904, a young New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
court clerk named Ernest Kent Coulter
Ernest Kent Coulter
Ernest Kent Coulter , was a War Veteran journalist, lawyer, public administrator, and developer of civil society and human welfare programs most notably through his work in child advocacy....
was seeing many boys come through his courtroom. He recognized that caring adults could help many of these boys stay out of trouble, so in 1904, he set out to find volunteers and made his famous plea:
"There is only one possible way to save that youngster, and that is to have some earnest, true man volunteer to be his big brother. To look after him, to help him do right, to make the little chap feel that 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."
That marked the beginning of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City and the Big Brothers movement.
When the first gentleman stood to volunteer, Big Brothers of New York City (the founding member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America) began. Coulter's audience, a New York City men's club of business and community leaders, immediately saw the strength of this brave new idea. By the end of the day, 39 men had volunteered, and thus 39 futures were salvaged.
By 1916, Big Brothers had spread to 96 cities across the country.
Eight years later, in June 1912, Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt helped to form the “Big Sisters” organization. In 1921, the Big Brother and Big Sister Federation incorporated in New York State.
Historical Timeline
- 1902 Coulter, a court clerk, helps organize the first New York Children's Court, under Judge Julius Mayer; Ladies of Charity, later Catholic Big Sisters of New York, starts to befriend girls who come before the New York Children's Court
- 1904 Ernest Coulter founds the organized Big Brothers movement by obtaining 39 volunteers, who each agree to befriend one boy
- 1912 The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reports Big Brothers activity in 26 cities - 1914 Ernest Coulter embarks on nationwide lecture tour on behalf of Big Brothers; planning begins for a national Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization
- 1916 Big Brothers work spreads to 96 cities
- 1917 The first national conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations is held in Grand Rapids, MI., leading to the later organization of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation
- 1925 Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation holds its first conference for agency executives; President Calvin CoolidgeCalvin CoolidgeJohn Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
becomes patron of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation - 1930 Six hundred delegates attend a Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation meeting in New York City
- 1934 President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt become patrons of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Federation
- 1940 National Committee on Big Brothers and Big Sisters service is created to continue to pursue the formation of a national group
- 1948 Norman RockwellNorman RockwellNorman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
produces the sketch that becomes a symbol for the Big Brothers Association - 1952 Ernest Coulter dies
- 1958 Big Brothers Association is chartered by Congress
- 1970 Big Sisters International is incorporated
- 1971 Big Brothers Association reports 208 affiliates
- 1977 Big Sisters International and Big Brothers Association merge, forming Big Brothers Big Sisters of America with 357 agencies, mostly independent agencies with their own nonprofit
- 1990 Allan Luks takes over as Executive Director of Big Brothers Big sisters of NYC.
- 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City celebrates centennial anniversary.
- 2007 BBBS of NYC was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $30 million grant from the Carnegie CorporationCarnegie Corporation of New YorkCarnegie Corporation of New York, which was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding," is one of the oldest, largest and most influential of American foundations...
, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael BloombergMichael BloombergMichael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
. - 2008 The Honorable Michael Corriero takes over as Executive Director
Allan Luks (1990-2008)
Allan Luks served as Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC for 18 years. After graduation from Georgetown University Law School, Allan became a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Venezuela. In their program for lawyers, he established an ombudsmen's office for the city of Maracay. On his return to the U.S., Luks went on to become a community action lawyer in East Harlem for the Children’s Aid Society. This experience led him to become an Associate Director for a $2 billion inner-city investment fund, created by the life insurance industry—the largest such private fund. He later became an executive officer for the New York office of RAND, one of the nation’s best-known think tanks.For more than two decades, Allan has led major nonprofit institutions, receiving significant national and international recognition. He worked with the Alcoholism Council of New York, followed by The Institute for the Advancement of Health—focusing on how the mind affects the body, including the benefits experienced by helping others. In 1990, Allan became the Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, the oldest and largest mentoring organization.
Allan initiated and led the campaigns for the successful adoption of three laws, one of which saves lives, another that saves jobs every day, and one that protects children.
- The requirement to post warning posters in New York City bars and restaurants about the risks of birth defects from drinking while pregnant. Passed in 1983, it led to the federal law on all alcoholic beverage bottles and cans.
- Pioneered the research that led to the adoption of the New York City law that prevents discrimination against recovered alcoholics in employment and other areas.
- Organized and guided more than 140 New York organizations to obtain passage of the Safe Mentoring Act, the first such law in the nation, that became effective in April, 2007.
Allan has been recognized by many organizations and media over the years, including:
- The national Lewis Hine Leadership Award for his work helping families and children.
- NY1 News named him ‘New Yorker of the Week’ in a special profile aired on TV.
- Crain’s New York Business selected him as ‘Nonprofit Leader of the Year’.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City established the annual Allan Luks Award for Public Policy.
- The Marty Mann award for communicating about addiction.
Allan is also the author of many books, including The Healing Power of Doing Good, Will America Sober Up and Having Been There.
Recently, Allan established the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Fordham University, the first center sponsored by both a graduate school of business and graduate school of social service. The Center is the brainchild of Allan Luks, who also serves as its director. It is an intensive and comprehensive program that offers top-notch executive education for leaders and leaders-to-be of nonprofit groups.
Currently Allan is a Senior Advisor for BBBS of NYC, and is a member of several Boards of Trustees for nonprofit organizations.
Michael A. Corriero (2008-2010)
In July, 2008, The Honorable Michael Corriero took over as Executive Director. Corriero served the people of New York for three decades, beginning as an Assistant District Attorney for New York County in 1969.He was appointed to New York State Supreme Court (1989–90) and also served as a Judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York (1980–89). He lectured on criminal justice as an Adjunct Professor at Pace University (1976–94) and was an Assistant District Attorney for New York County (1969–73). He subsequently specialized as a private practitioner in all phases of criminal law (1973–80). Judge Corriero was also Assistant General Counsel to the Society of European Songwriters, Authors and Composers; a Legislative Assistant; and an Associate at Schiffmacher, Rochford & Cullen, a firm that specialized in municipal law.
Judge Corriero is an alumnus of St. John’s University School of Law (1967) and St. John’s University (1964). He graduated from St. John’s University College with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in social science. He was a member of the Law Review and served as an associate editor.
Judge Corriero is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Citizens’ Committee for Children’s Annual Founders’ Award (2004); The Howard A. Levine Award for Outstanding Work in the area of children and the law (New York State Bar Association 1999); The Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award (American Bar Association 1997); Outstanding Service on Behalf of Youth Award (ELEM 1996); The Conrad B. Mattox, Jr. Commonwealth Debate Winner (University of Richmond 1996); The Charles A. Rapallo Award (Colombian Lawyers Association 1994); and he participated as a Polsky Judicial Fellow at the Aspen Institute’s Justice and Society Seminar (2003).
Jon May (2010-2010)
Jon May is CFO and partner at The CarbonNeutral Company Holdings, Inc., one of the world’s leading carbon offset and carbon management businesses. Jon joined The CarbonNeutral Company from carbon management business, GreenLife in 2008. Prior to GreenLife, Jon was the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Catalytic Capital LLC, a venture capital and private equity firm. Previously Jon had been Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Triarc Companies, Inc., where he was responsible for merger identification and execution, corporate finance and planning. While at Triarc, Jon held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Arby's, Inc. from 1999 to 2001, and remained Chairman of Arby's from 2001 to 2004. While CEO of Arby’s he had the opportunity to present charitable gifts at Big Brothers Big Sisters sites across the country. May has been a Board Member of BBBS of NYC since 1999 and is currently the acting Executive Director.“The significant focus of my presidency will be to raise funds to help this 105-year old agency continue and expand its mission,” says May. “The changes in the economy have severely impacted charities and families. We will become more aggressive, more imaginative and more efficient in our search for funds to reach the 600,000 NYC children who would benefit from a BigsNYC mentor and a social worker, if only the chance was presented to them.”
Hector Batista (2010-Present)
In October of 2010, Hector Batista was appointed as the new Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Citys of New York City. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of non-profit agency The Way to Work, one of the nation's leading youth workforce development programs.Community & Special Priority Programs
Youth & volunteers meet anywhere, anytime (it's up to the adult mentor, the little brother or sister, and the parent/guardian). "Bigs" and "Littles" meet at least twice a month (usually on weekends) and spend time together one-to-one on their own, planning and participating in activities of their choice. The time commitment is eight hours per month, for one year.Traditional Mentoring Program
Our largest program, serving the general population ages 7–17, in need of an adult mentor.Bronx and Queens Borough Partnership Program Youth who reside in under served neighborhoods in the Bronx and Queens meet with their mentors to explore their own, as well as other communities.
9/11 Together We Stand Program
In response to the tragic events of September 11, Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC initiated this program to provide long-term help for children who lost a parent or close relative in the World Trade Center attacks.FDNY Partnership Program
The program is for youth who lost a parent in the FDNY in the line of duty, including, but not limited to September11th. Mentors are men and women who are active and retired fire fighters, those that work for the FDNY and relatives of individuals in the FDNY.New American Partnership
These youth are first generation Americans facing the challenge of balancing two worlds: the culture of their family and country of origin, and the culture of their school peers and New York City.Young Mothers
Teenage mothers in need of a friend, as well as information on resources available to them.Site Based
Programs meet regularly at a designated time at a specific location. They generally meet only during the school year and are supervised by an on-site social worker. Matches are one-to-one, with occasional group activities.School-Based Meet regularly at lunchtime at a school to spend time with a youth, helping with homework, discussing areas of interest, etc.