Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire Mentoring Programs

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire Mentoring Programs include several types of mentoring relationships. In the High School Bigs program, high school students in grades 9–11 mentor elementary school students once a week after school for one hour, in sessions led by a Big Brothers Big Sisters program specialist. In the Workplace Mentoring program, corporate employees at a participating company are matched with high school students and meet once a month at company headquarters for 90 minutes, facilitated by a Big Brothers Big Sisters program specialist. In the Community Mentoring program, adults age 18 or older are matched with children ages 6 to 16 and plan activities together twice a month based on their own schedule, and in the Big Couples program, two adults age 18 or older in a relationship for two or more years are matched with a Little Brother age 6 to 16 and spend time with the child twice a month together or on their own.

• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: Weekly one-hour after-school sessions for High School Bigs; monthly 90-minute Workplace Mentoring sessions; Community Mentoring and Big Couples activities twice a month

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire states that its mission is “creating and supporting mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of the next generation.” The organization identifies itself as California’s largest mentorship organization. Its leadership team includes Chief Executive Officer Sloane Keane; Chief Financial Officer Laurie Peterson, CPA; Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Strategic Growth Officer Keith Mataya; Chief Marketing Officer Julia Rios; Chief of Staff Kayla Beltran; Chief Operating Officer Tracy Carmichael; Vice Presidents of People & Culture Rachel Zebro and Hazel Gonzales; Vice President of Child Safety Brianna Rios; Senior Director of Operations Amanda Green; Senior Director of Program Support Services Jessica Gonzalez; Senior Director of Educational Partnerships Marina Uriarte; Senior Director of Marketing & Communications Casey Gomez; Director of Program Innovation Juan Ochoa; Director of High School Bigs Latilla Cain, M.A.; and Director of Risk & Compliance Lizette Hurtado. The organization states that it offers youth crucial social connections, guiding them toward positive choices, academic success, and career opportunities, and that it is dedicated to igniting potential in the youth and young adults it serves and to unlocking the potential of staff, stakeholders, and volunteers by leveraging individual strengths.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire is recognized as a 2024–2025 K-16 Regional Business Partner by OC Department of Education's OC Pathways. It is recognized as a 2023 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Platinum Award Winner and a 2022 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Gold Standard Award Winner, and it has a Charity Navigator rating of four out of four stars. The organization is recognized as a 2024–2025 K-16 Regional Business Partner by OC Department of Education's OC Pathways for advancing career success, has a partnership with Hoag referenced as “BBBS + Hoag: Partners in Caring for Orange County,” and its Workplace Mentoring program involves corporate employees at a participating Workplace Mentoring company. The organization is also listed on OC Nonprofit Central and Candid.

Last updated July 24, 2026.