Grant to boost mentorship program

Nothing is more critical to the health of a community than the well-being of its youth. For years now, Circle of Friends has been providing the community's most vulnerable children a nurturing and sustained relationship with a volunteer mentor. Those mentors teach positive values and have attainable expectations for each child to become a healthy, productive member of the community.

That effort just got a major boost in the form of an Oregon Community Foundation Grant for $20,000. The award was presented at Circle of Friends' annual mentor appreciation event last Friday, which was attended by 40 people at the Pine Meadow Village Clubhouse.

Executive Director Debbie Newport wrote the grant. She told The Nugget that the funds will build capacity for the organization to both serve more children and broaden its program offerings as the children get older.

Specifically, the $20,000 will assist with program development for middle school/high school youth; provide professional development and training for mentors; and help implement a comprehensive program evaluation.

The program currently serves 28 children.

"(The grant) is going to allow us to grow, to reach more kids based on what the need is," Newport said. "We continually have a waiting list with 10 or more kids' names on it that we could serve if we had the capacity."

Prospective mentors are always welcome.

"We're training five new mentors this week," Newport said.

Circle of Friends Program Director Kelly Davis Martin described the qualities sought in a mentor:

"A good volunteer mentor has the internal passion to make a difference in the life of a child. They know the value of having a strong relationship in one's life and want to build that relationship with a child. They bring their time and their presence, but they also come into the relationship ready to give and to receive. They are not there to tell the child what to do, or to have all of the answers. They are there to help the child uncover their own strengths, values and goals. Great mentors build strong, trusting relationships based on mutual respect, open communication and connection to uncovering what the child needs to grow and thrive."

For more information visit www.acircleoffriendsoregon.com/mentor or call 541-588-6445.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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