SAN DIEGO – Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County (BBBS of SDC) invites Bigs, Littles, supporters and the community to join the kickoff of Mental Health Awareness Month with the 3rd Annual 5K Any Way, highlighting the positive influence of mentorship on youth. Join the fun on Saturday May 6^th at 8AM at Mission Bay Beach Club by walking, running, or rolling on four wheels or two for 3.1 miles. A podcast episode will also be released on that day, highlighting the importance of mentorship on mental health.

As the leading mentoring organization in the country, the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. This annual event helps raise awareness about the importance of providing children facing increased obstacles with a supportive adult outside of mom or dad, while also raising funds to sustain and further develop the organization’s mentoring programs.

“Being a youth mentor with BBBS is one of the greatest joys of my life. It reminds me that being supportive and caring for another human being, will in turn promote personal growth, confidence & well-being for both involved. I speak of this because I have experienced it firsthand during my time as a youth mentor. Being a part of BBBS has made a huge impact on my life. It is an honor and a privilege to advise, guide & contribute to this brilliant young man." – Big Brother Brandon Coyne

In 2022, BBBS of SDC reported that 93% of Littles maintained or improved social competence, which is strongly linked with better mental health and higher academic achievement. 84% of Littles that participated in its mentoring programs maintained or improved in School Connectedness, which is linked to high school graduation rates. In fact, in 2022, 100% of High School Senior Littles enrolled in the BBBS of SDC program graduated from High School.

For 62 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County has provided children and youth facing adversity with the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring from screened volunteers to help guide their personal and professional growth. This direct relationship-building model seeks to help ignite the unlimited potential in our county’s youth. With mental health being an important aspect of youth development, BBBS of SDC hopes to help raise awareness about the value that mentorship brings to our local community by facilitating one-to-one mentoring relationships.  

Please join in raising awareness about the important role that mental health plays in the development of San Diego youth by registering for the 3rd Annual 5K Any or by becoming a sponsor at http://www.sdbigs.org/5K

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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County

Founded in 1904 nationally and in 1961 locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters has 230+ local agencies serving more than 5,000 communities across all 50 states. For more information, visit: www.SDBigs.org. 

Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life, volunteer or donate today at www.SDBigs.org, or call (858) 536-4900.