January 24, 2008 | Read Time: 2 minutes
The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston has sued Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, saying that the recent addition of “Big Sisters” to the group’s name has left people unclear about the charities’ identities.
“It’s created confusion among donors, among volunteers, and among the community at large,” said Deborah Re, chief executive officer of the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston.
“It inhibits our ability to do the work we set out to do, mentoring girls in Boston,” Ms. Re said. She added that it was difficult to “get the word out” to donors that her charity still existed.
Boston Groups
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay changed its name in 2006, after merging with two other Big Brothers Big Sisters groups. The group first started providing services to girls in 1998.
John Pearson, chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, said that his charity altered the name after receiving permission from the national Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, of which both his group and the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston are affiliates.
He said that two other charities in the Boston area have similar names, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston and the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation of Boston, and that his organization and the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston had created the latter group together.
“To claim there’s confusion when the name Big Brothers Big Sisters has been shared in the marketplace for such a long time lacks credibility,” he said.
The two charities have long collaborated on recruiting volunteers and participants for their programs and in running clothing drives. Mr. Pearson said he had offered to work together on a fund-raising effort with the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston.
The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston is one of two remaining Big Sisters charities in the country. Most other groups have merged with Big Brothers organizations.
Ms. Re, of the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, said that she was dedicated to maintaining the independence of her charity. “When you have an organization with a laser focus on the mission of serving girls, everything you do is around the social, developmental, and emotional needs of girls,” she says. “You’re going to have better results.”
