Big Brothers Big Sisters and LAIKA Launch National Mentorship Campaign Tied to Upcoming Film
Event summary
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) and LAIKA launched the 'Wildwood Heroes' campaign on September 3, 2026, celebrating real-life stories of young people and their mentors.
- The campaign is tied to LAIKA's upcoming animated feature 'Wildwood,' premiering October 23, 2026.
- Zoe, a young girl impacted by the 2025 Southern California wildfires, and her mentor Kaeti are the first 'Wildwood Heroes' featured in the campaign.
- BBBSA serves over 5,000 communities across all 50 states, with local chapters like BBBSLA serving 1,300–1,500 youth annually.
The big picture
The 'Wildwood Heroes' campaign leverages the power of storytelling to highlight the critical role of mentorship in youth development. As the need for mentorship grows, partnerships between nonprofits and entertainment studios like LAIKA could become a strategic model for amplifying social impact. The campaign also underscores the long-term economic benefits of mentorship, as evidenced by research from Harvard and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
What we're watching
- Campaign Reach
- The pace at which the 'Wildwood Heroes' campaign gains national traction and inspires similar initiatives in other communities.
- Mentorship Impact
- Whether the campaign's storytelling can translate into measurable increases in mentor recruitment and youth engagement.
- Film Synergy
- How the campaign's alignment with 'Wildwood' affects the film's box office performance and cultural resonance.
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