The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact. BBBS serves more than 250,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in 5,000 communities throughout the United States. Research consistently demonstrates that BBBS mentoring helps at-risk youth overcome many of the challenges they face.

The Jack in the Box Foundation supports BBBS through corporate, employee, franchisee, vendor and guest donations, as well as fundraising and volunteering. Along with providing financial support, the company raises awareness for BBBS by displaying decals in its restaurants.

The Foundation supports several unique BBBS programs throughout the country.

School-based Mentoring Program

The Foundation sponsors a national BBBS school-based mentoring program, which currently runs in 17 U.S. communities: Boise, Charlotte, Dallas, Fresno, Greenville, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orange County, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose and Seattle.

The program matches high school "Bigs" with elementary school "Littles," who meet on a regular basis to read, do homework or just talk. According to a BBBS study, elementary students who participate in school-based mentoring develop better attitudes about school, achieve higher grades, improve their relationships with adults and peers, and develop more self-confidence. The study also found that high-school students who participate develop a sense of responsibility, leadership skills and learn the value of volunteering.

The Foundation sponsors the program through an annual donation to BBBS and lends additional support by offering materials to help recruit high-school students, such as T-shirts and free Jack in the Box meal coupons. The Foundation also grants a "High School Big Award" of $1,000 to one high-school student from each of its 17 school-based mentoring programs every year.

Operation Bigs

The Operation Bigs program on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in Southern California provides mentors, primarily from the military, to children with parents serving overseas.

Hermandad

In San Diego County, The Foundation helped establish Hermandad, a BBBS initiative that helps youth from the county's growing Latino community realize their potential through supportive, one-to-one mentoring relationships.

First Meal Program

The Foundation's "First Meal" program treats newly matched Bigs and Littles to a free meal at a local Jack in the Box restaurant.