New Mentorship Program Pairs Staff With At-Risk Youth in Four Cities

This March, Universal Events launched a new mentorship program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters in four cities: Phoenix, Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas. The premise is simple — any full-time team member who wants to mentor a young person can, and the company pays for the four hours a month it takes to do it.

As of this writing, 38 team members across the four cities have been matched with a mentee. The early reports — from mentors, mentees, and parents — have been overwhelmingly positive.

“I wasn't sure I had anything to offer a kid. Turns out, just showing up every other week was the whole thing. He knows I'll be there. That's what matters.”

Why We're Doing It

Research from Big Brothers Big Sisters shows that matched youth are more likely to stay in school, avoid risky behaviors, and aspire to higher education. The effect compounds over years — and the mentor relationship is often cited by former Littles as one of the defining influences of their childhood.

For our team, the program is an extension of what we already believe: that face-to-face time, consistently over time, changes lives. It is the same philosophy that drives our community work — now directed at the young people in the neighborhoods our teams live in.

Expanding the Program

We plan to add four more cities to the program by the end of 2026, with the goal of having 100+ matched mentor pairs by this time next year. Team members interested in mentoring can speak with their office manager or the People team.

If you are a nonprofit working with young people and would like to explore a similar partnership, please reach out through the contact page.