Mentor Requirements:

• Over 18 years of age
• Emotionally mature and of good character
• Willing to spend time with a child between the ages of 6 to 17
• Have adequate transportation and car insurance
• Spend a minimum of 4 hours a month with your mentee

Mentor Role:

• Take the lead in supporting a young person through an ongoing one-on-one relationship
• Serve as a positive role model and friend
• Plan and participate in activities with your mentee
• Strive for mutual respect
• Build self-esteem and motivation
• Help set goals and work toward accomplishing them together

Mentor Benefits

• Personal fulfillment through contributions towards community and individuals
• Satisfaction in helping someone achieve their goals
• Personal ongoing support to help the match succeed
• Mentor training sessions and group activities
• Participate in monthly sponsored events and activities, such as horseback riding, rock climbing, tickets to sporting events and musical shows.

Positive Role Model:

• The path to adulthood can be challenging. Mentors offer children positive influences & instill confidence in them to believe in themselves.

Have Fun:

• All mentors and mentees engage in monthly activities together. Building Legos, crafting, ice skating, baking, or hiking.  There is always something to do with a YMN mentor

YMN Impact:

• 55% of mentees are more likely to attend college or trade school.
• 67% of mentees engage in sports, clubs, or extracurricular activities.
• 46%  of mentees are less likely to use drugs.
• 58% of mentees reported better mental health.
• 93% of mentored children showed an improvement in at least one of the following areas: academics, confidence, self-esteem, social skills, and happiness.

Cathy, YMN mentor since 2016:

“This is why I love being a mentor: I just texted one of my mentees about going the Capital Theater and this was her response “Sure, I love spending time with you so anything counts!”  I also received a text from my other mentee’s mom, “Thank you for tonight. My daughter is on cloud 9. I am so thankful and grateful for you, and all that you do for our family.” I am so humbled to be a mentor to my mentee…the family is awesome.”

Michelle, YMN mentor since 2020:

“What I love about being a mentor…a 14 year-old keeps you real. It’s a way to stay connected with a kid and support them. Working in education, I know that every kid needs to know they matter. Being a mentor is another layer of showing that you care. I love that I get to be part of her life.”

Jessica YMN mentor since 2022:

“I had a school mentoring relationship with my mentee for 18 months.  My mentee’s family and I agreed that since she is getting closer to attending middle school, it was a good time to start a more formal mentoring relationship through YMN.  Now that we have been matched through the mentoring process, we are able to see each other more than just during the school day for a few minutes. We are able to really build our relationship and have fun doing all sorts of things! I have to say that this mentoring relationship with my amazing, bright and beautiful mentee is one of the biggest blessings of my life. She gives just as much to my heart in the form of positivity, pride and love than I hope I am giving to her.”

YMN mentee, since 2022:

“I love mentoring because it brings so many people together, and you can always have someone to talk to. I have been having some really hard times in my life right now, and my mentor has been a blessing in my life and heart. She has been such a big help for me and my family. She holds a very special place in my heart, and I love her.”

Courtney, mother of two YMN mentees:

“YMN has been pivotal for my family—as a single mom of 3 high needs kids, sometimes no matter how much I poured into my kids, it didn’t feel like enough. But when my daughters were paired with 2 amazing women who pour into them, encourage them, and give them a safe place to feel seen and heard, our family had space to start to heal and thrive. YMN has provided me with my “village” and support I never knew I needed.”