Posted by: thepinetree on 12/05/2013 06:49 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 12/05/2013 06:51 PM
Expires: 01/01/2018 12:00 AM
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The Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program Celebrates Ten Years of Supporting Friendships and Building Community.
Angels Camp, CA...This month, the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program is celebrating ten years of supporting friendships and building community. Donna Shannon and Tina Miller were the first mentor and mentee matched in the Mentoring Program in 2003, and on December 18th they will celebrate their tenth anniversary as friends. “It has been a joy to witness the beauty and growth in Donna and Tina’s friendship over the years,” said Kathryn Eustis, Director of Youth Development and Prevention Programs at the Calaveras County Office of Education. “We are so grateful that they have continued to participate in and support the program all this time. How many mentoring programs get to showcase their inaugural match at their tenth anniversary?”
Donna firmly believes that spending time with a young person is an investment in a brighter future. Tina was eleven-years-old when they were matched. “The highlight of mentoring has been watching Tina grow and mature into a beautiful young woman,” said Donna. “We’ve conquered quite a few challenges during our time together, and now we have a really nice adult friendship.”
After ten years, Tina trusts that Donna will always be her friend. “We started out as friends but now we’re more like family,” said Tina. “Our friendship is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Donna cares about me. She wants me to do what I know is right. And when I make mistakes, she takes time to help me figure things out.”
Reflecting on their friendship, Donna feels that she has also gained a lot from her mentoring time with Tina. “Mentoring has helped me become a better person,” said Donna. “I find myself being more open-minded and accepting of different ways of living. I’ve learned to be less judgmental. I don’t think that Tina realizes what a force for positive change she has been in my life.”
As Donna and Tina’s friendship has grown, so too has the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program. “When I first volunteered to be a mentor, it was something of a leap of faith,” said Donna. “In ten years I’ve watched the Mentoring Program become more streamlined and efficient. The program staff put their whole hearts into building these friendships, and now they are making double, sometimes triple the number of matches they made in the beginning. Their passion is inspiring.”
A capstone moment in the life of the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program came this year when Tina volunteered to become the first mentee ever to serve on the program’s advisory committee, which is a group of youth professionals, parents, mentors, and volunteers who offer guidance to the non-profit mentoring program. “It is a very exciting time,” said Kathryn. “The young people we serve are stepping forward to carry the Mentoring Program into the future.” Tina understands the significance of her position in the group. “I feel honored to be a part of the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program advisory committee. I want to make sure that other kids get the same opportunities that the Mentoring Program gave to me,” said Tina.
To celebrate ten years of successful mentoring in Calaveras County, the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program invites all community members interested in supporting exceptional young people, just like Tina, to call the Mentoring Program today at (209) 736-6078. Attending a program orientation does not require a commitment to become a mentor, but helps the program build its recruiting power in the community. For further information, visit www.calaverasmentoring.org.
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