According to MENTOR, the national mentoring partnership, 1 out of 3 children will grow up without a mentor.
There are many benefits for children and teens matched with mentors. These young people are less likely to engage in risky behaviors and activities such as truancy, drugs and gangs. They also are more likely to graduate high school and attend college. But, the power of a mentor runs deeper than numbers may indicate. Messages of empowerment — “I believe in you,” “you’re worthy of this opportunity,” “I think you have what it takes,” “it’s okay to try and fail,” — help recognize and unleash a student’s potential, which can change the trajectory of a life.