Year of mentor activities for 50 vulnerable youth

Last fall nearly 375 youth began the school year with a Friend by their side. While some of our youth are nearing the end of their 12 ½ year journey with their mentors, others are just beginning to experience what it means to have a Friend who is committed to their happiness and well being.

No matter what age they are or what their circumstances, all of our youth benefit from time spent with their Friends doing activities that help them develop skills and personal interests. Friends look for every opportunity to provide the youth they mentor with fun and enriching experiences that bring joy into their lives and broaden their horizons. Activities include playing board games, creating arts and crafts projects, riding bikes, playing sports, exploring fun places and events in the community, and enjoying the outdoors.

When they are first matched with their mentors in kindergarten, many of our children find it difficult to believe that the mentor will not be just another adult who leaves them or lets them down. It takes consistent, long-term effort to show our children that they will always have a Friend to stand by them, and the time spent doing activities together is a crucial component of that effort. The more children and Friends play together, the stronger their bond becomes. This bond in turn forms the basis for a long-term relationship in which children trust the advice and support their mentors offer.

Over time, this support enables youth to succeed in spite of the numerous obstacles they face, as evidenced by our most recent annual third party program evaluation:

• 85% of program graduates have earned a H.S. diploma or GED, though 50% of our youth have a parent that did not complete H.S.
• 98% of program youth have avoided the juvenile justice system, though 60% of our youth have one or more parents who have been incarcerated
• 98% of program adolescents have avoided early parenting, though 60% of our youth were born to a teen parent

Thank you for helping us provide new experiences and opportunities to our youth! With your support, we will continue to change children’s lives for the better…one child at a time.

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