Schulze foundation awards $140K for youth mentoring

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has received a $140,000 grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation to support one-on-one youth mentoring programs in Collier, Lee, Hendry and Charlotte counties. The nonprofit connects young people with adult volunteers who provide guidance and support. During its 2025-26 fiscal year, the organization served more than 1,800 young people and supported 4,800 families across its 10-county service area. Nearly 1,900 volunteers contributed an estimated 265,000 hours. The organization reported that 99% of participating students graduated or advanced to the next grade level.