NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH
National Mentoring Month
January 2008 commemorated the seventh annual National Mentoring Month. (Mentoring.org)
National Mentoring Month 2008
January is National Mentoring Month. The month-long celebration is a collaborative, public-private initiative sponsored by nonprofit organizations, media companies and government agencies dedicated to recruiting caring adult mentors for America's youth. The Delaware Mentoring Council is a partner in this endeavor.
Highlights of the month can be found below:
Business Mentoring Recognition Event
More than 100 people attended the Business Mentoring Recognition Event held at the Roselle Center for the Arts Gore Recital Hall on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware on the evening of January 29. The purpose of the event was to recognize businesses for their dedication and support of youth mentoring.
This was the inaugural year for The Governor's Award for Youth Mentoring: Business Community. Barclays was chosen as the recipient for their, "extraordinary support and commitment to mentoring of Delaware's youth as a method of helping youth realize their full potential," according to DMC Director Claudio Cerullo, Ph.D. A tribute from the governor and a trophy were presented to Jocelyn Stewart, Senior Director, Community Relations and Clint Walker, Chief Legal Council from Barclays.
Pictured above, left to right, Sally Coonin, Governor's Education Policy Advisor; Clint Walker, Chief Legal Council, Barclays; Jocelyn Stewart, Senior Director, Community Relations, Barclays; Will Robinson, President & CEO of East Side Learning Center (Photo by: Janine G. Sorbello, DE State Chamber of Commerce)
The five businesses that took part in The Great Delaware Mentoring Challenge, Nationwide Financial Network, Cash Connect, Aetna, Inc., Croda, Inc. and WSFS Bank, were honored with a Tribute from the Governor for recruiting over 52 mentors for children and youth during September and October.
Business representatives accepting Tributes from the Governor on behalf of their companies were: Rebecca Anthony, Cash Connect; Stacey Altemus and Nicole Kalinosky from Nationwide Financial Network; Stephanie Bryant-Crowe and Mary Sodl from Aetna, Inc.; Kathy Adler, Tracy Bray, and David Niehaus from Croda, Inc.; Henrietta Belcher-Stack from WSFS Bank. (Photo by: Janine G. Sorbello, DE State Chamber of Commerce)
An additional 24 businesses were recognized for their active involvement in advancing youth mentoring in Delaware.
- ACW Corporation
- Agilent Technologies
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
- Bank of America
- Beebe Medical Center
- Bill Ward, Inc.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware
- Delaware Today Magazine
- Discover Bank
- Dover Downs
- Grubb and Ellis Company
- Hercules Incorporated
- Independent Disposal Services
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited
- New Castle City Police Department
- Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
- Trinity Transport
- Valero Delaware City Refinery
- Verizon Delaware
- Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Wilmington Rotary
- Wilmington Trust
Pictured below are representatives from those businesses who accepted the Governor's Tributes.
(Photo by: Janine G. Sorbello, DE State Chamber of Commerce)
Keynote speaker, Tyrone Jones, Director, Corporate Community Alliances at AstaZeneca Pharmaceuticals, shared an inspiring talk with the audience. He compared mentoring to "dancing." A young person needs someone to lead them through the years so they don't have to "dance" alone.
Indian River School District Mentor Coordinator, Suzanne Farris, reports on their mentor appreciation event
The second annual Mentors at the Movies celebration was held on January 29 at the Clayton Theater in Dagsboro, Delaware. Over sixty volunteer mentors from the Indian River School District turned out to a free screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks complete with refreshments. The evening began with a welcome by Dr. Susan Bunting, Indian River Superintendent and featured presentations of nine Jefferson Unsung Hero awards and Presidential Service Awards to nine schools and the district. In total, volunteer mentors with the Mentor Delaware – Indian River School District program contributed over 15,000 hours to students last year.
Also announced that evening were the results of the Mentor Delaware Poster and Essay Contest sponsored by the Trinity Foundation of Seaford, Delaware. Students who have mentors were asked to express their feelings on the topic "Mentoring Matters to Me." First prize winners received passes for Dinner and a Movie and all others received ribbons and certificates.
Appoquinimink School District Mentor Coordinator, Iazia Jones, reports on their mentor appreciation event
Although we try to thank our mentors continuously, National Mentoring Month is a time when everyone who benefits and appreciates the efforts of mentors has the opportunity to say "thank you" together. On January 16rth the Appoquinimink School District joined together to say thank you to its mentors at the Third Annual National Mentoring Month Celebration. All mentors, mentees, their families and mentor supporters throughout the district were invited to join Dr. Claudio Cerullo, the Director of Delaware Mentoring Council, and special guest A'r'Marlon Barbour in saying thank you to Appoquinimink's mentors. Mentors and mentees had the opportunity to hear Dr. Cerullo and Mr. Barbour speak about the great and lasting impact mentoring has on the lives of mentors and mentees. Mentors had the opportunity to meet their mentee's family, play games and win door prizes that included activities they can use during mentoring sessions.
We truly want to thank all of our mentors and families for attending, all of our speakers for helping us say thanks and everyone who helps to support mentoring in Appoquinimink School District and throughout the state of Delaware.
Thank you, again and again, you are appreciated more than you know!
