A Month to Celebrate the Life-Changing Impact of Mentoring

"I truly appreciate your support of this great organization that has allowed me to attain a place at UC Berkeley and achieve the dreams of my entire family."

- Angela

Shante Lewis and Judy Carter

Shante Lewis, pictured above with mentor Judy Clark at her June 2011 graduation from Johns Hopkins University, is one of thousands of students who have participated in the Fulfillment Fund mentor program over its 20-year history.

"Mentoring can change a student's life, by encouraging a student to be all that they can be."

-Jane Waterhouse
Co-Founder, Fulfillment Fund Mentor Program

Every day, the lives of young people are positively affected by their interaction with their mentors. Here at the Fulfillment Fund, we utilize mentoring along with college instruction, one-on-one college counseling, scholarships and stipends, and other resources to support students as they overcome obstacles to graduating high school and going on to college.

Fulfillment Fund mentors help shape the lives of our students, providing role modeling, support and encouragement.

"Every day, mentors help young Americans face the challenges of growing into adulthood," said President Barack Obama, in a proclamation designating January 2012 as National Mentoring Month. "By setting a positive example and sharing their time, knowledge and experience, mentors play an essential role in preparing our Nation's youth for a bright future."

National Mentoring Month gives us an opportunity to say thank you to those who volunteer their time and energy to mentor through the Fulfillment Fund, while realizing that there are still so many students whose lives would be positively and dramatically impacted by this meaningful opportunity.

"Being a mentor is the most fulfilling experience," says Addis Arega, a Fulfillment Fund alumna and UC Berkeley graduate who became a Fulfillment Fund mentor herself in 2008. "People think it takes a lot of time and energy, but actually it's the other way around. You gain much more than you give."

On Friday, January 27, the Fulfillment Fund will take part in a ceremony at City Hall proclaiming National Mentoring Month. This year, the Fulfillment Fund is also commemorating the 20-year anniversary of the founding of its mentor program with a special evening celebration on Monday, February 6. (Event information is available here.)

Students are waiting to be matched with mentors. If you are interested in mentoring or know someone who is, please contact the Fulfillment Fund at mentoring@fulfillment.org, and click here to learn more about the Fulfillment Fund Mentor Program.

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