National Mentoring Month

January 2013 marks the 12^th Anniversary of National Mentoring Month, an annual campaign to recruit mentors for young people. Research shows that volunteer mentors can play a powerful role in reducing drug abuse and youth violence as well as boosting academic achievement. Mentors help build young people’s character and confidence, expand their universe, and help them navigate a path to success.

The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools is currently recruiting mentors for students in the Take Stock in Children Program.  Take Stock in Children is a college scholarship and mentoring program for low-income, at-risk students in the public school system.  Students in the program are matched with a mentor that they meet with regularly through high school graduation. Upon graduation, they receive a 4 year college tuition scholarship.

“With more than 70% of the students in our district at or below poverty level, mentors are needed more than ever. Consider changing a child’s life by investing in their future through mentoring,” says Marshall Bower, president & CEO of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. “Mentoring is a requirement for students in the program, and their future is at stake.”

For information on how you can become a mentor, contact Diana Durante at 239-337-0433, or email Diana@leeschoolfoundation.org.