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January is National Mentoring Month and United Way Capital Area wants to celebrate our 1 Hour for Kids local mentors. Meet David Robb, a correspondent at the Austin American Statesman, who has mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters since November 2009. Here’s what Big Brothers Big Sisters is saying about him: “David has developed a good bond with his Little (Angel) through their mutual interest in sports.  Most days, you can find them at the park playing basketball or football. Over the last few months, Angel has been feeling more comfortable and confident around his Big brother and likes to joke around and talk about things going on in his life.  David not only encourages Angel to do well in school, he is a good role model on how important education is, as he is taking classes to become a teacher.  He also takes him to UT sporting events, a great way to introduce Angel to an aspect of college.  David goes above the 1 hour a week, often spending 2 to 3 hours on outings developing a strong foundation that is a positive influence on Angel’s life.” Make a difference in your community by becoming a 1 Hour for Kids mentor today!

As we enter the final week of National Mentor Month, we’d like to share this video entirely created by students at the River City Youth Foundation. RCYF provided details of the project: During the winter of 2009, River City Youth Foundation “My Hero!” mentoring program held a holiday camp that included a music portion. The children who had a desire to write positive lyrics about mentoring and Dove Springs were coached by River City Youth Foundation mentors and Jason Birdwell. Through encouragement from adults and other children, they were empowered to rap to their own lyrics in the studio, play instrumental tracks (guitar, bass guitar and percussion), create loops from software, and record video tracks that make up the entire content of “Come Mentor Us.” Make a difference in your community by becoming a 1 Hour for Kids mentor today! 

January is National Mentoring Month and United Way Capital Area wants to celebrate our 1 Hour for Kids local mentors. Meet Alix Floyd, Director of Leadership Giving at United Way Capital Area who has mentored through Big Brothers Big Sisters since June 2009. “I mentor because a small commitment on my part can mean a huge difference in the life of a young person. I’ve been granted every advantage in life and it is my duty to pay it forward. I had the blessing of having parents, grandparents, teachers, and friend who were all invested in my success. Without their guidance my life would have been very, very different. I want all kids to have the advantage of supportive, caring, invested adults.”  Make a difference in your community by becoming a 1 Hour for Kids mentor today!

President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation recognizing January 2011 as National Mentoring Month. Did you have a mentor growing up that made a significant impact on your life? Many of Austin’s youths are in need of a responsible, caring adult to help them succeed. You can make a difference by visiting unitedwayaustin.org/1hourforkids/ to learn about opportunities with seven Austin organizations. Make a difference today! You can read the Presidential Proclamation below or visit whitehouse.gov. Across our Nation, mentors steer our youth through challenging times and support their journey into adulthood. During National Mentoring Month, we honor these important individuals who unlock the potential and nurture the talent of our country, and we encourage more Americans to reach out and mentor young people in their community. The dedication of mentors has helped countless young men and women succeed when they might have otherwise fallen short of their full potential. Mentors can provide a steady presence and share their valuable knowledge and experiences. Even brief amounts of quality time set aside by these compassionate adults can have a lasting impact on the development of a child. Mentors can also support the lessons of parents and teachers by encouraging students to complete their schoolwork and by instilling enduring values of commitment and persistence. From coaches to community leaders, tutors to trusted friends, mentors are working with today’s youth to develop tomorrow’s leaders. We know the difference that a responsible, caring adult can make in a child’s life. Effective mentoring programs can result in […]