On July 4, 1903, Cincinnati businessman Irvin F. Westheimer looked out his downtown window and noticed a young boy sharing scraps of food with his dog. Curious and moved by what he saw, Irv invited the boy, named Tom, to lunch and learned that he was one of five children being raised by a single mother struggling to make ends meet. Irv stepped in to help by finding work for Tom’s mother, offering guidance, and mentoring him. This kindness sparked a movement that began right here in Greater Cincinnati.
Through Irv’s travels as a salesman, several of his peers became mentors to boys, and soon the idea spread across the country. From Irv’s single moment of compassion, and the vision that countless children could benefit from having a mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters was born in Greater Cincinnati. Now nationwide with over 230 agencies, it continues to change lives 120+ years later.
Through Irv’s travels as a salesman, several of his peers became mentors to boys, and soon the idea spread across the country. From Irv’s single moment of compassion, and the vision that countless children could benefit from having a mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters was born in Greater Cincinnati. Now nationwide with over 230 agencies, it continues to change lives 120+ years later.
