peoplerealize. ‘That's because you can volunteer to be a mentor,share yourlife with a child and make a real difference. Children need someoneto look up to, someoneto whom they can confidetheir challenges andstruggles. Why Be A Mentor Considerthestatistics. On the one hand, one in four public high school Giving children the opportunities children drop out before finishing and supportthey need to develop school. Ontheother, youngadults who into productive members of their wereat-risk forfalling off track but had a mentor are 55 percent morelikely to enroll in college. communi crucial. Yet, “by someestimates,” reports Dr. years. They often becomefriends ofthe child’s whole family? said Wendy Kir- at Wellesley College, “as many as nine Relationsfor Kars4Kids.Its “unique and Phillip Levine, Professor of Economics million children have no caring adults in their lives” By volunteering,you can bethatrole model. Your personalinvolvement, your love andcare, can be the greatest gifts youcan give a child. Howto Be A Mentor Mentoringis the heart and soul ofall the programs at Kars4Kids, a registered nonprofit Jewish organization which, together with Oorah,its sister charity— andover1,650 volunteer mentors—helps thousandsofchildren develop into productive members of the community. “With the help of experienced outreach counselors, available at any time for consultation and advice, mentors keepin close contact with their mentees, developing relationship thatlasts for wan, Director of Marketing and Public inclusive year-round model helps kids with camp in the summer,after-school programs during the schoolyear, and holiday packages and events, reaching out to families with support, guidance and tools to build a meaningful and wholesomefamilylife.” she adds. Summerandafterschool hours pre- sent excellent opportunities for devel- oping life skills that are the foundation fora child’s future. By mentoring a child, you can helptoinstill universal values, stimulate the developmentofinterpersonal competenciesandbring outlatent talents, interests andstrengths. Where To Learn More To sign up and for more informa- tion, go to: www.kars4kidsprograms. org/act-now/mentor.asp.
