Big Buddy works on the simple philosophy that fatherless boys develop more courage and confidence in their lives when they have a positive male role model to learn from.
Welcome to Big Buddy
Big Buddy is a preventative program that finds kind-hearted mentors for fatherless boys between 7 and 14 years of age. It is a free, secular service that rigorously screens male volunteers from the community then matches them with boys who benefit greatly from just a little of their time.
Find a mentor
Are you mothering or caring for a fatherless boy between 7 and 14 years of age? When fathers are missing from boy's lives, women usually take the full responsibility of bringing sons up alone. They do a courageous job, but boys benefit greatly from time with a man of good character who can actually 'model' maleness.
Become a mentor
Big Buddy has been matching mentors with fatherless boys since the idea began in 1997. Dedicating as little as 2-3 hours a week for at least a year has a huge impact on their confidence, well-being and ability to make good decisions. You could be one of over 800 men making a difference to boys' lives today.
Become a supporter
Big Buddy is incredibly grateful to all the people and businesses who support us in bettering fatherless boys' lives. If you'd like to support this incredibly worthy cause there are many ways to do it. You can become a donor, a sponsor, leave a bequest or simply spread the word to help us find mentors and funders.
A heartrending poem for absent fathers
Mentors learn lessons from boys too
Key to confidence in extending comfort zones
“My son has a Big Buddy and I couldn't speak more highly of this organisation. They are making real differences in the lives of so many young boys. I adore the happiness and confidence that our Big Buddy brings to my son. Definitely worth the reward if you are someone who can give a few hours a week to make a massive difference in some boy’s life.”
LIANNE MORRISON
Why mentoring matters
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
48,669 Boys AGED 7-14
living in solo parent families in New Zealand
WE ESTIMATE THAT
8,030 Boys HAVE NO
contact at all with their father
(16.5% of all solo parent families)
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
780 Fatherless Boys IN THE
WELLINGTON REGION
and 4,725 boys living in solo parent families
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
893 Fatherless Boys IN THE
WAIKATO REGION
and 5,412 boys living in solo parent families
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
2,618 Fatherless Boys IN THE
AUCKLAND REGION
and 15,867 boys living in solo parent families
Partner Project Snapshot
Twice a year the Big Buddy community is the benefactor of Barworks' vibrant Long Lunch events. Ticket holders enjoy five sumptuous courses, each matched with wine or beer. Barworks is a hospitality group comprised of a range of individual venues like the Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen in Freemans Bay, Auckland.
At our most recent event on July 5, 2018, guests at the Sweat Shop event provided us with an amazing $30,000 worth of philanthropy, all to offer fatherless boys courage and confidence through mentoring in the Auckland, Waikato and Wellington regions.
Pictured are from left, Big Buddy Chair Travis Field and the uber-charitably minded Mark Jackson, Director of Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen. A huge thank you to all! Read more about all our amazing partners here.
