Mr. Irvin Westheimer founded Big Brothers in the early 1900's when he observed a young boy rumaging through a garbage can.  Mr. Westheimer bought lunch for the boy and discovered the boy's mother was struggling to support a family of five.  Befriending the family, he helped the mother find a better job and began encouraging other businessmen to spend time with boys who didn't have a father.  Big Brothers quickly grew and came to Toronto in 1913.

Big Brothers of Cambridge was founded in 1972.  The Galt Kiwanis Club provided much of the leadership and financial support for the new organization.

The objects of the Association at the time were:

• to help boys who lack the influence of mature responsible men to reach their highest physical, emotional and spiritual development.
  
• to help provide individual guidance in sound character development to boys who lack adult male companionship.

Today as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cambridge, we have branched out and diversified our programs to encompass both boys and girls between the ages of 6 to 16.  These children are individually assessed to determine their need for additional support systems with the prime prerequisite being "a child in need".  We are proud of our achievements and continue to strive to be on the leading edge of the Big Brothers Big Sisters movement in Canada.