Sarasota, Fla.— October 26, 2026 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has received a $140,000 grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation to support its one-to-one Mentoring Program across Collier, Lee, Hendry and Charlotte counties.
Through one-to-one mentoring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast connects young people with caring adult mentors who provide consistent encouragement, guidance and support. Professional staff work alongside families and volunteers to help build and sustain meaningful mentoring relationships that support young people in reaching their full potential.
“We are grateful to the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation for its continued investment in the young people and families we serve,” said Kamala Martinez, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. “This support allows us to continue creating and strengthening one-to-one mentoring relationships that can make a lasting difference in the lives of youth across Southwest Florida.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast serves youth across a 10-county region, creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. During fiscal year 2025–2026, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast served more than 1,800 youth and supported 4,800 families across its 10-county service area.
During the same fiscal year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast demonstrated the impact of consistent, professionally supported mentoring relationships through measurable outcomes for the youth it serves. 99% of youth graduated or advanced to the next grade level, and 100% of graduating seniors transitioned to postsecondary education, military service, or employment.
These outcomes are made possible by a dedicated network of nearly 1,900 volunteers who contributed an estimated 265,000 hours of service throughout the year. With mentoring relationships lasting an average of more than two years, youth have the opportunity to build trust, develop confidence, strengthen relationships, and receive consistent guidance from caring adults. Together, these results reflect the organization’s commitment to helping young people succeed in school, navigate important life transitions, and build a foundation for future success. Research reinforces the lasting value of these mentoring relationships.
A 30-year longitudinal economic study involving researchers from Harvard and the U.S. Department of the Treasury found that youth who participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) mentoring programs were 20% more likely to enroll in college and earned 15% more over their lifetimes. The research also found that participation in BBBS mentoring programs helped close two-thirds of the economic opportunity gap between youth from lower-income families and their higher-income peers.
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation’s investment will help Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast sustain and strengthen its mentoring services across Collier, Lee, Hendry and Charlotte counties, ensuring more young people have access to caring adult mentors and professionally supported relationships.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
For more than 57 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has helped young people realize their full potential through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships. By connecting youth with caring adult mentors, the organization empowers them to build confidence, achieve educational success, and develop the skills needed to thrive in school, work, and life. Now the 10th largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the nation, the organization continues to expand its reach and impact as one of the leading youth mentoring organizations in the country. In recognition of its continued growth and impact, the organization received the 2025 Growth Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Learn more or get involved at BBBSsun.org.
About the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation was created in 2004 by Best Buy founder, Dick Schulze, to give back to the communities where Dick and his family grew up – in Minnesota, where he built Best Buy to become the world’s largest consumer electronics retailer, and in Florida, where he now maintains a permanent residence. The Schulze Family Foundation creates grant partnerships with organizations that generate meaningful results in human and social services, education, and health and medicine. In all its activities, the Foundation embraces its founder’s vision to strengthen and support initiatives that lead to change within our communities. For more information, please visit SchulzeFamilyFoundation.org.
Media Contacts
Vinnie Mascarenhas, VP Marketing & Communications
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
941-488-4009
vmascarenhas@bbbssun.org