Bridge Builders Foundation
TRANSFORMING YOUNG STUDENTS INTO LEADERS THROUGH MENTORSHIP
Guiding Youth to Successful Lives Through Guidance and Role Models
The Bridge Builders Foundation focuses on transforming mere dreams and aspirations of success into reality for the disadvantaged youth in Southern California, particularly young African-Americans.
Their mission is to remove the barriers of race, poverty and despair through mentoring, educational support, healthcare awareness and by uplifting the community.
Based in South Central Los Angeles, they began in 1998 as the Zeta Rho Foundation. Renamed Bridge Builders Foundation (BBF) in 2015, today they provide an impressive mentoring program for students through their college years.
Bridge Builders envisions a world where all youth, regardless of circumstance, can realize the fullness of their potential. Banc of California supports that vision and innovative programs through a collaborative partnership that allows Bridge Builders to continue having a positive impact in the community, especially through its dynamic and acclaimed mentoring program. The Bank also provides corporate financial support.
Changing Lives and Creating a New Generation of Leaders and Professionals in California
“The Bridge Builders Foundation is now more than just a trusted provider of quality community programs,” says James Breedlove, BBF President. “Today, we’re seen as community influencers who assist in defining problems and framing solutions. This is evidenced by our growing number of corporate and philanthropic partners, as well as many community partners that we align with to meet the vast and varied needs of youth and communities of color.”
Banc of California believes in partnering with organizations that inspire and support academic, social and intellectual growth in at-risk youth. BBF has established itself in the Los Angeles African-American community as a hope-giving, uplifting and life-changing organization whose goal is to bring real change to underserved communities. By supporting their vision and goals, we’re able to help strengthen California through education, mentoring and community-nurturing programs.
“I stand as a testimony to the impact Bridge Builders has had on many young men of my generation. It is because of their investment in me that I was able to graduate in communications from the University of Southern California and then launch my career.”
Princeton Parker
Motivational Speaker, USC graduate, and a former Bridge Builders Zeta Rho Scholarship Recipient
BRIDGE BUILDERS
The dynamic, life-changing Bridge Builders mentoring model is a continuum designed to expose disadvantaged African-American students to “success roles” initially, and bring African-American professional men into their lives—ultimate role models who drive change through mentoring and coaching.
