About the Buddy Program

Mission

The Buddy Program strengthens our community by guiding and inspiring youth through mentoring.

Mentoring and More

For over 38 years, the Buddy Program has been pairing qualified mentors with young people referred to the program.  The roots of the Buddy Program (TBP) come from a local mental health counseling director who recognized that many of his clients’ children could benefit from an extra caring person in their lives.  In response to increased demand for services, TBP extended one-on-one mentoring through El Jebel in 1994 and through Carbondale in 2010.


Over the years, additional benefits for participating youth have been implemented.  Examples include paying for therapeutic counseling, scholarships for extra-curricular activities and continuing education, and connecting youth and their families with other agencies as necessary.  TBP has added Experiential Group Mentoring programs in 2010 from Aspen through Parachute for at-risk teenagers, youth waiting for a Big Buddy, at-risk Little Buddies in need of extra-support, and Little Buddies who have outgrown their Big Buddy relationship, preferring instead a group mentoring experience with their peers.

Become a Buddy

Become a Big Buddy

Become a Little Buddy

Fast Facts:
More Than Surviving...Thriving!

The Buddy Program is more than just mentoring; the Buddy Program provides the resources for our participants and their families to not only survive, but to THRIVE!