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Learn all about the magic of mentoring

Learn all about the magic of mentoring

Ever think about becoming a mentor? Well, think no more, the time to act is now. There are more than 200 local children in our public schools on the waiting list, hoping to be matched with a caring adult from our Sonoma community. These are kids who need and want an adult friend, someone to help them in school and in life.

And here’s the good news – careful attention is paid up front to assure that the best matches are made, so that the hour a week you spend together is as fun and rewarding as ever. There are mentor centers on eight public school campuses, overseen by Mentoring Alliance staff and complete with all sorts of tools to help mentors build a lasting friendship with a child – board games, computers, art projects, cards, puzzles, sports equipment, rocket-building kits, Foos-ball, air-hockey, a pool table, the list goes on.
On-going training and support is provided, as well as an array of field trips, social events, and extra-curricular activities that help to foster relationships.

There is no cost to become a mentor. Your gift is the one-on-one time you spend building a trusting, caring friendship in a safe and supportive environment.

The kids who have been nominated for a mentor relationship are kids who need a hand-up, not a hand-out. They are children with unrealized potential, who could really benefit if someone was there to open the doors to new experiences and challenging opportunities. In the words of basketball great, Magic Johnson, “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.” Be that someone. Now is the perfect time.

So mark your calendars for Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and join your neighbors and friends for a complimentary cocktail party at MacArthur Place, sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. There will be no-obligation information presented about becoming a mentor, as well as a chance to ask questions, get answers and mix and mingle with mentors who are happy to share their own experiences as volunteers in the Stand By Me Mentoring Program.
The Mentoring Alliance recently celebrated 15 years of mentoring kids. Presently, there are 483 kids who have a mentor in their life, but many more are waiting. Now, more than ever, kids need someone to support them, boost their confidence and give them the encouragement to set goals for their future.

Change the world with your reach – start right here in your own community. Become a mentor. You’ll be glad you did. For more information, call the Mentoring Alliance at 938-1990, or check the website at sonomamentoring.org.

Tina Baldry is the program and art director for the Sonoma Valley ‘Stand By Me’ Mentoring Alliance.