February 3, 2010 — In observance of National Mentoring Month, PAL Program representatives, Mendy Stone and Cindy Vanaman, recently went “hunting for mentors.”
Their goal was to match all of the Rogers County public school students currently waiting for a PAL Program mentor.
“Targeted” mentors included Troy Anderson, Catoosa Bank of Commerce; Nathan Sappington, Rogers County Sheriff’s Office; Jason Crandal, Claremore Fire Marshall; Donna Horner, RCB Customer Service; and Gage DeLozier, Sequoyah High School senior.
Mentors are still needed for a 10-year-old Claremore boy interested in cars and sports, a nine-year-old Catoosa girl dealing with grief issues and interested in animals, and a Claremore junior high boy who recently lost his dad in an accident.
The PAL Program is one of many mentoring programs across the U.S. serving more than three million children but it is estimated there are 17 million children who want and need mentors.
“We especially appreciate the support of local businesses like Centrilift, RCB and the City of Claremore who allow their employees to mentor a student during work hours,” said Vanaman, PAL Project Director. “Since the PAL Program is a school-based mentoring program, mentors must be available to visit with their student during their school day once each week for about an hour.”
January was National Mentoring Month in America as proclaimed by President Barack Obama. The proclamation, in part, reads: “Every day, mentors in communities across our Nation provide crucial support and guidance to young people. Whether a day is spent helping with homework, playing catch, or just listening, these moments can have an enormous, lasting effect on a child’s life. During National Mentoring Month, we recognize those who give generously of themselves by mentoring young Americans.”
It’s not too late to get involved and make a difference in the life of a child.
To learn more or become a PAL Program mentor contact Cindy Vanaman at 343-2530 or palcoordinator@yahoo.com.
PAL is a program of Volunteers for Youth, a local organization supported in part by Rogers County United Way.
