United Way Celebrates National Mentoring Month In January and Urges Area Adults To Become Mentors

Change a Life -- Become a Mentor
Call 866.MENTOR3

UWSEPA Resources Questions About Youth Mentoring Campaign For Mentors February 2007 Progress Report VIDEO - United Way calling on adults to become mentors (Fox 29) VIDEO - How mentoring is changing the lives of area students (NBC10) Mentoring Resources Online www.wwscholars.org/guide/ www.bbbssepa.org www.gssp.org www.philamentor.com/ www.phillyasap.org www.philasafesound.org Public Service Announcements PSA: General Colin Powell (for adults) PSA: General Colin Powell on Mentoring PSA: HBO PSA: Usher & Quincy Jones PSA: Victoria Rowell PSA: With Your Help Articles Resolved: That each of us help a youngster find the way By Philadelphia city councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 16, 2007 Mentors help lives A response from Alba Martinez Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 29, 2007 Arlen Specter Announces $4.8 Million For Philadelphia School District To Reduce Youth Involvement In Gangs

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania is calling on adults throughout the region to make a difference in the lives of young people by becoming mentors during National Mentoring Month. Now in its seventh year, National Mentoring Month is intended to raise awareness of the power of mentoring, recruit mentors, enlist businesses and other organizations in promoting mentoring to their members, and honor mentors for their impact in the community.

Since 1990, United Way’s Campaign for Mentors has worked year-round to provide access to a mentor for every young person in the Philadelphia region who needs one. With well over 100,000 school-age children in the region facing problems such as poverty, teen pregnancy, and violence, positive adult role models are more important than ever. Through its Campaign for Mentors, United Way funds mentoring programs that serve nearly 5,000 youth each year, advises more than 85 additional programs, and trains hundreds of mentors and program leaders.

“Mentored youth are more likely to have positive attitudes about school, more likely to attend and less likely to have behavior problems,” said Alba Martinez, President and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. “This is essential, because success in school is a key to success in life.”

As a part of National Mentoring Month, United Way will be holding the following special events:

January 19th – Mentoring Night with the Philadelphia 76ers: Hosted by the Sixers and the Wachovia Center, 75 mentors and kids will enjoy the game in a luxury box.

January 25th – Shadowing Day: Philadelphia area businesses and organizations will welcome ninth grade students from the School District of Philadelphia into their workplaces to give them firsthand exposure to the everyday working world. Shadowing is an experience during which students are paired with employee hosts for a day to gain a better understanding about their particular careers. Nearly 2,000 students will participate in this exciting educational opportunity. Learn more.

Kick off of Business Mentoring Youth Program: During the week of January 14th, 10th grade high school students will begin their assignments at area businesses to participate in work-based mentoring opportunities for two hours per week until June 2008. Business Mentoring Youth is a partnership between United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Youth Network, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the School District of Philadelphia. Learn more.