Michael Winslow is the new Youth Guidance mentor of Jared Moss. Winslow and 5-year-old Jared are one of the most recent mentor and mentee matches in the Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activities Program of Indian River County. They enjoy spending time and having fun together each week.
The major purpose of this local agency is to match each of the 700 at-risk K-12 children in the program with a mentor, a volunteer 17 years and older who meets with the child every week. According to the August issue of the Youth Guidance Volunteer Newsletter, a mentor is a caring, adult friend who devotes time to a young person. Although mentors can fill any number of different roles, all mentors have the same goal in common: to help the young people they mentor discover their strengths and achieve their potential. The Youth Guidance program offers many rewarding opportunities for members of the community to volunteer. “Kickoff for Kids: A Mentor Mixer” will be held at The Links at Pointe West at noon on Sunday, Sept. 13. An admission price of just $10 provides the opportunity to learn about the 2009-2010 Youth Guidance Draft Picks, hear from current mentors, watch the first NFL games of the season, enjoy an NFL Buffet and a cash bar, and have a chance to win a night at Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel, paintings, and gift certificates.
Youth Guidance also provides one-time activities and outings for the more than 400 boys and girls who are waiting to be matched with a mentor. Opportunities for volunteers to participate with these “unmatched” children in one or more special events occur throughout the year. The monthly newsletter, found at www.ircyouth.com, provides the details of upcoming events.
Persons interested in learning more about becoming a Youth Guidance mentor, volunteering to participate in special one-time activities with a child or to work in the office, or making a donation may visit the www.ircyouth.com website or call Barbara Schlitt Ford, Executive Director, at (772) 770-5040 for more information.