Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast just received a $140,000 grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation to boost its one-to-one Mentoring Program across Collier, Lee, Hendry, and Charlotte counties.
The Mentoring Program matches local youth with adult mentors, people who show up, listen, and care about helping kids thrive. Staff work closely with families and volunteers, making sure these mentoring relationships stay strong and really matter to the young people involved.
“We’re grateful for the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation’s steady support of the youth and families we serve,” said Kamala Martinez, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. “With their help, we can keep building and deepening one-to-one mentoring relationships that change lives all over Southwest Florida.”
The organization covers a wide area, 10 counties in total. This past fiscal year, they served over 1,800 youth and supported 4,800 families. All this work gets actual results: 99% of the young people in the program graduated or advanced to the next grade, and every graduating senior moved on to college, the military, or a job.
None of this would be possible without its nearly 1,900 volunteers, who together gave over 265,000 hours of their time this year. Most of these mentor-mentee pairs stick together for over two years, which helps kids build trust, grow confidence, and get support and advice as they learn, face tough choices, and prepare for what’s ahead. It’s not just the organization who says this work matters, a 30-year study by Harvard researchers and the U.S. Treasury found that young people who join BBBS mentoring programs are 20% more likely to go to college and earn 15% more later on. In fact, the study shows these programs help narrow the economic opportunity gap that often exists between lower-income kids and their peers.
Now, thanks to the Schulze Family Foundation’s grant, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast can keep up, and even strengthen, its mentoring services in Collier, Lee, Hendry, and Charlotte counties, reaching more local youth and helping them connect with dedicated adult mentors.
For over 57 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has helped young people reach their potential by matching them with mentors who want to help them thrive at school, on the job, and in life. Today, it’s the 10th largest BBBS agency in the country, and its work continues to grow.
The national organization recently recognized its impact with the 2025 Growth Award. Those interested in learning more or getting involved can visit BBBSsun.org.
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, started in 2004 by Best Buy founder Dick Schulze, supports organizations that create positive change in education, social services, and health. The foundation operates in both Minnesota and Florida, the places closest to Schulze and his family. To learn more, visit SchulzeFamilyFoundation.org.
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters Sun Coast, click here.
