Image source: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America logo, sourced from BBBS.
A Promise Betrayed
In the late 1970s, a young boy was matched with an adult mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters, a program that promotes “meaningful, monitored matches” intended to positively shape young lives.
But according to a lawsuit recently filed in Baltimore County, Maryland, that relationship instead became the source of lasting trauma. The suit alleges that both Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake (BBBSGC), a local affiliate, and its national organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA), failed to protect the young boy from sexual abuse by his assigned mentor.
At the heart of the case is a broken promise. While BBBS publicly states that “when every young person has access to a positive mentor, it transforms their lives for the better,” the victim’s story, as outlined in the lawsuit, reveals a very different reality.
Abuse Allegedly Occurred in the Late 1970s
The suit alleges that between 1976 and 1979, when the victim was just 8 to 10 years old, he was sexually abused by his assigned adult mentor, or Big Brother, identified only as “Ken.” The perpetrator’s role within the BBBS program purportedly earned the trust of the victim’s family, which allowed him unsupervised access to the child.
The lawsuit further claims that both BBBSGC and BBBSA failed to properly screen or supervise those with access to children and that the perpetrator’s behavior followed abuse patterns recognized by the organizations.
Long History of Alleged Abuse in BBBSA Programs
BBBS is committed to “[helping] ensure the safety and well-being in the life of every child that engages with one of our local agencies.” However, its record tells a different story.
The suit outlines a disturbing history of child sexual abuse within Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. According to the filing, BBSA leadership acknowledged in the 1970s that the organization “attracts those who may abuse our children.” A 1982 report contained recommendations regarding the screening of mentors, the characteristics of child abusers, and how to supervise the Big/Little relationship. They also recommended that children and parents in the program receive an orientation regarding child sex abuse.
The report’s statement that children are “high risk for the potential abuser” reinforces the idea that vulnerability within the program was well understood. This goes beyond general risk: it acknowledges specific, identifiable dangers to participating children.
Additional reports cited in the complaint include a 1991 American Bar Association evaluation that identified over 300 reports of sexual abuse between 1982 and 1991, which revealed that most sexual abusers were Bigs, and most abused children were Littles. Subsequent reports document dozens more abuse allegations throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Despite this well-documented history, the lawsuit alleges that BBBSA failed to warn staff, Littles, or their families about these known risks and failed to ensure its local affiliates actually used or complied with its own child sexual abuse prevention programs. The organizations allegedly did not place necessary restrictions on situations known to be risky, such as mentors bringing children into their homes or taking them on overnight trips.
It wasn’t until 2012, the lawsuit asserts, that BBBSA publicly addressed the risk of child sexual abuse in its organization.
Did You Experience Abuse in a Big Brothers Big Sisters Program?
Instead of receiving the support and guidance promised by the program, the victim was sexually abused by someone entrusted to mentor him, resulting in lifelong trauma. This case emphasizes the consequences when institutions ignore known risks and fail to take meaningful steps to protect the children in their care.
If you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse while participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters or another youth-serving program, you are not alone, and you may have legal options.
Andreozzi + Foote is a nationally recognized law firm dedicated to representing survivors of sexual abuse. We are dedicated to representing survivors in the pursuit of justice and demanding accountability from the institutions that failed to protect them.
Contact us today for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.
📞 Call (866) 899-8753
📧 Email info@vca.law
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