Clair McCune: June Mentor of the Month!

Join us in celebrating Claire McCune as June’s Mentor of the Month! Claire joined the mentor program in January 2012 after she heard about the rewards of mentoring a child in need through our Mission for Mentors Telethon. Like many of the kids referred to our program, Claire did not feel heard growing up and struggled with peer relations during adolescence, so when she saw the Telethon she felt called to help other youth struggling as she once did. Her experience as educator for more than twenty years, a mother of two grown children, and a child in a large family prepared her to be a creative and compassionate mentor and instilled a desire to help guide at-risk youth in making their own positive decisions.

When it was time to choose her mentee, Claire decided on a seventh grader from La Cumbre Junior High School who suffered from a poor attitude towards life and school, difficulties with peer relations, and who really needed someone that she could trust and talk to. Claire had all the qualities her mentee needed to help relating to her peers and gave her the boost in confidence to be a successful student. Although her mentee had always possessed these inner strengths, Claire helped draw them out by being a friend who listened, cared, and guided her in the right direction.

From the first day Claire and her mentee met it was clear that they were going to be close friends. Not only did they have a lot in common, such as loving the outdoors and a silly sense of humor, but they found out they had very similar temperaments and could instantly relate to each other. Claire could understand how the gossip and teen drama was made her mentee feel negative about being at school and friends in general, and she was able to help her overcome those obstacles and encourage her mentee’s personal and academic growth. Over the last year their special bond has strengthened into a wonderful friendship, and it is clear in the joy they feel in each other’s company that their relationship has positively impacted both of their lives. Today, her mentee is a very social and animated girl who always brings a positive attitude. She is eager to work on academics and has set big goals and accomplished them. Claire is an advocate for responsibility and has taught her mentee how to be accountable for herself, which has helped her become a hardworking student with the desire to learn. Claire is an incredible role-model and we are grateful to have her as part of the mentor program family! Congratulations Claire and thank you for investment in our youth! You truly deserve to be our June Mentor of the Month!!

Learn how to become a mentor like Claire at our website, www.mentor-center.org

March Mentor of the Month: Sally Green

Congratulations to Sally Green, our March Mentor of the Month! Sally has been a mentor for over two years, on our advisory Task Force for nearly as long, and just last month began mentoring a second little girl in Carpinteria. Sally joined our program as a mentor in January 2011 when she retired as the Principal of Canalino Elementary school in Carpinteria. She knew how important mentoring was from seeing it happen at Canalino, and throughout her 30+ years of being an educator, and was excited to give back upon her retirement.

Her first mentee was one of the students at Canalino that Sally personally knew needed a mentor due to her difficult family circumstances. Her mentee was ecstatic to have her former Principal be her new friend and mentor and they continue to have a special relationship today. Sally knew her mentee would need more personal and emotional support, rather than just academics, and has been a consistent friend and confidant throughout the past two years.

With her mentee now in middle school Sally felt she had the time to mentor another child, and just over a month ago was matched with her second mentee, a wonderful 5th grader at Canalino. Sally wanted a mentee who would be open to working on academics and meeting outside of school, and her new mentee is a perfect fit! They spent their first meeting getting excited about all the fun activities and cultural outings they want to do together, including visiting Santa Barbara City College and preparing for her future.

Sally continues to be a great supporter and advocate of mentoring in the community as well as an important member of our advisory Task Force. The program wouldn’t be the same without her insight from the educator’s perspective, and we look forward to many more years of working together. Her dedication to the youth of our community stretches back far beyond her years of mentoring with us, and her devotion to helping her mentees grow and thrive is an inspiration.

Thank you for everything you have done for the mentor program and your mentees Sally! You truly deserve to be our March Mentor of the Month!!

On paper, mentoring can seem a bit overwhelming, maybe even daunting, for someone who doesn't have children, or doesn't trust themselves to give the right type of influence to a malleable mind. With our busy schedules we doubt our ability to give an hour a week to someone who may need a bit more attention and advice, let alone a child who may truly need a strong mentor.  These fears are understandable, but I hope that as we celebrate all of the amazing work that Edgar Diaz has done we can also use his words and experience to better understand the true nature of mentoring and why we should move past our hesitation and reach out to change the life of a child.

Edgar joined the Mentor Program as a Mentor Advocate at the very end of 2010, and within one month was matched up with his first mentee, MP, a 6th grader with a difficult family situation and problems managing his anger.  Edgar quickly made a connection with MP by helping him open up about his feelings while playing basketball or just walking around campus during lunch, encouraging him to try new things, and even helping him get into an excellent private school by personally speaking to the dean in his favor. As their relationship progressed Edgar realized that he was truly helping to change MP’s life. 

This experience was so rewarding and meaningful for Edgar that just over 4 months after being matched with MP he took on his second mentee, CL. A rambunctious 3rd grader who struggled to follow the rules, often fought with his classmates, and also lived in a tumultuous household. Over many months Edgar helped CL understand and respond more appropriately to his emotions through role playing and problem solving, taught him to write his thoughts down in a journal and “draw his emotions” so he didn’t bottle them up, and gave him a friend to talk to about his struggles at home.  They grew so close that one day CL told Edgar he looked up to him like a father, and Edgar was so proud to have made such an impact on a child in so great a need. Edgar continues to be in touch with MP and CL and looks forward to continuing their relationships for many years to come.

Taking on two mentees within a six month period seems a bit ambitious to me at first, and I wondered how Edgar became so enthusiastic about mentoring. What experience had he had prior to becoming a mentor that drove him to give back and volunteer so much of his time. I asked Edgar what motivated him to become a Mentor and he first spoke about his Aunt: 

“My aunt was the first to go to college. She attended UC Riverside. When I was in fourth grade I spent my spring break with her and she took me to her classes and around campus. We had so much fun and I remember being amazed at how awesome college was! Because of that experience I was determined to go to college. She sparked something in me. To her it probably wasn’t such a big deal but to me it meant so much. I spent most of my junior high and high school years wanting to go to UCR and I eventually decided on UCSB. As I grew older I didn’t need her as much, but she was always there for me when I needed her to review some homework assignments or if I had questions about college. I want to give someone that spark and support that I once received from her.”

Edgar’s was extremely motivated by this family experience, but as he continued to speak he made it clear that its not just family that influences a child, but also the outside environment.

“Also, what inspired me was that I have seen a difference in the lives of people who have someone to care about them and those who don’t. I came from a high school where maybe about 60% of the incoming freshmen actually make it to graduation. My older brother was almost one of them. His teachers weren't pushing him to do better which is why he barely graduated. Of course at one point everyone should become responsible for their own education, but it always helps when someone is encouraging you.”

There are two main places that affect the development of a child, the home and family, and the school community of teachers, peers, and other types of mentors. Talking to Edgar showed that the community outside of the home, especially the school, have just as great an impact on a child’s potential and outlook on life than their home environment, for better or worse. Edgar knows from his time as a mentor, and from being an Advocate for over a year, that just having someone who cares about you and encourages you can make all the difference.  I was curious about how this change comes about, so I put together a questionnaire for Edgar to showcase his perspective on the influence, challenges, positives, negatives, and overall rewards that come from participating as a Mentor in the Fighting Back Mentor Program.

Q: What was your favorite part of working as a Mentor Advocate? And what will you miss most about working with the program?

E: I think my favorite part was matching up a new mentor and mentee. I loved calling the child into the office and tell him/her that I found a mentor for them. Their excited smiles were so cute and it made me feel so good to know I was helping to change their life. Then doing the match meeting and seeing how the mentor and mentee click is always amazing. I became pretty good at finding the right mentee-mentor match, and took a lot of pride in this ability. Then after they are matched up I loved hearing how their relationship was going and how the kids were improving. I also liked hearing how the mentor were enjoying the experience, especially because it was often a surprise to them to realize how much they were growing and how much fun they were having.

Q: What do you think has been the most challenging part of maintaining a mentor/mentee relationship? How did you deal with/overcome it?

E: The changes, as I mentioned before are fun and exciting, however there are changes that can make the relationship challenging and difficult. This goes for both the mentor and the mentee. The mentor might have a family or have a busy job schedule, which can make it more difficult to meet. And as the mentees get older they often get more involved in sports or organizations at school, get caught up in socializing, and start dating.

These transitions, especially from elementary school to middle school can be challenging and different for everyone, but it is always important to remember to welcome the changes with open arms. Both mentor and mentee need to communicate and be honest about what is going on. The mentor will probably have to be more upfront in the beginning because the mentee might feel embarrassed to talk about their feelings. Communication is key with any relationship, especially with kids who aren’t always the best at it. All these kids are smart and they pick up on everything, including how we talk and interact with them. There are many ways of communicating and staying in touch, even if you're not meeting with each other as consistently as you’d like.

Q: Off the top of your head, describe the first moment that you realized that you had made an impact in your mentee’s life? -> How did this make you feel?

E: For MP, the first time I realized I made a difference was when I took him to California Pizza Kitchen for our one-year celebration. All I did was sit there and listen to him. He just kept talking and talking. I knew this was a shift in our relationship because he was shy when I first met him; very polite, respectful, and quiet with a lot going on under the surface. A year later he is sitting there telling me everything about school and how happy he is that he isn’t getting in serious trouble. He was so happy at his new school, with his new friends, and he told me “thank you” for helping to get him in. I was so grateful and happy that he was doing better and staying out of trouble, and it felt great that he identified me as the reason that he was in such a good place.

For CL I think it was when he started the fourth grade. We made short term goals for him to stay out of trouble. First we started with a goal of three days. Honestly it took him a while but eventually he accomplished his goal of three days, then we began to extend the number of days. The lunch lady at his school would always give me updates about how he was doing, and one day at the end of January, she told me that he had not been in trouble for an entire month! I was so happy with this news, I told CL how proud of him I was, and encouraged him to stay out of trouble. After this event, he went on to stay out of trouble for three straight months! Even if he had another moment, he learned to trust me and opened up to let me know if he got in trouble. More importantly this also opened up a place for us to talk about his family and helped us grow closer in our mentor/mentee relationship.

Q: Describe the first moment that you realized your mentee had made an impact/affected your life? -> How did this make you feel?

E: Well, I have a little brother who is 9 years old now, and I missed him because we don’t live nearby. Meeting and maintaining relationships with both of my mentees was a great way of filling that void, because if I can’t be there with my brother at least I can spend time with kids around the same age and energy level, and do my best to guide them. The opportunity to hang out with someone younger, like a younger sibling, also allows me to do all the fun activities people usually stop doing as adults. It is a way to step out of my adult stresses and simply have fun with two great kids, while also knowing I’m helping to enrich their lives.

Q: What do you think has been the most influential and positive part of maintaining a mentor/mentee relationship?

E: I think that the most influential and positive part of maintaining a mentor/mentee relationship is that the mentee has someone who cares about them no matter how old they get or what they are going through. I always tell my mentees that no matter where I go or where they go or whatever happens that I will always be there for them. Any kid simply wants someone who’s going to be there and support them, and someone who will simply show up. It is also very rewarding to maintain a mentoring relationship over time because you can see how you both change and learn from every new experience that comes into each other’s lives. The privilege of not just watching, but positively influencing the course of a child’s life and seeing them grow over time is an amazing satisfaction for me.

            Edgar shows us that becoming a mentor and has its ups and downs, challenges and rewards, growth and regression, exactly like any relationship you maintain over time. It is a choice to participate, encourage and support another individual in whatever it is that they do. Edgar took an opportunity to provide an hour or more a week of his attention to someone who was at risk, who may or may not have been getting it from their family, or teachers at school. What impresses me about Edgar is his patience, not only in hindsight or retrospect, but currently, even as he moves on to a new home, new job, and maybe more education, he looks at his mentoring relationships as current and ongoing. He still makes the time to meet with his mentees and stays in touch over the phone when he cannot visit.  Edgar’s experiences illustrate how truly rewarding, challenging, eye opening, and life changing being a mentor is. His words show what many of us already know first hand, that being a mentor doesn’t just affect the mentee; it also deeply resonates within the mentor and can be a wonderfully life changing and fulfilling experience. As Forest Witcraft famously wrote:

“One Hundred Years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money was in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.”

In Edgar’s case he has made the world a better place through the lives of countless youth in Santa Barbara by his incredible volunteerism and work as a Mentor Advocate.  Because of his commitment to his two mentees, and the community as a whole, we are proud to celebrate Edgar Diaz as our Mentor of the Summer!! Congratulations Edgar, you deserve it!

May Mentor of the Month

Deborah Pontifex

When Deborah’s mentee won the first place prize in the Santa Barbara Young Poets Contest Junior High Division, and walked up onto the stage to read her winning piece about her absent father, she was not just reading a poem, but bravely taking the most important leap of her young life. In facing a fear of public speaking and a deeply personal emotional wound, she proved to herself, and to the world, that she is strong enough to take on anything she sets her mind to. The transformation of this shy young girl into a glowingly confident young woman would not have been possible without the help of her mentor, Deborah.

Deborah’s mentee and her mother moved to Santa Barbara from Mexico in her 4th grade year, speaking no English. Her father remained in Mexico. Her mother requested a mentor for her daughter in hopes of providing her with the academic and emotional support she desperately needed as a new and shy student, with a working single mother, and a new baby sister to take care of at home.

Deborah’s mentee was matched up at the beginning of 6th grade. Deborah raved about her young mentee’s amazing focus on her goals of going to college and becoming a doctor or dentist, and her sweet personality. However, Deborah’s mentee’s shy disposition and other challenges have, on occasion, slowed her progress. In their nearly three years together Deborah has tirelessly focused on improving her mentee’s confidence in any way she could; by helping her excel academically, by being her friend and confidant, and always encouraging her to take on new opportunities like applying for summer camps and scholarships. Several times Deborah’s mentee succeeded in winning these scholarships, but when faced with the scary, new responsibility of actually attending these programs, she deferred. While Deborah couldn’t help but feel frustrated to see her wonderful mentee on the edge of success but too scared to step forward, she continued to support her decisions no matter what, knowing that it was just part of the process. Deborah arranged to pick her mentee up from school the day that she was to read her winning poem. As her mentee practiced reading the poem aloud at a quiet coffee shop, she began to cry with the emotion the poem evoked in her, saying “I can’t do this.” Deborah coached her through it, talking to her about her father and what the poem meant to her. After dropping her mentee off at home, Deborah kept expecting a call from her to cancel the reading, but it never came. And when she picked her mentee up that evening she remembers her looking ready, glowing, and confident like never before.

Walking onto that stage was Deborah’s mentee’s big moment of facing her fears and the painful emotions of the loss of her father, of rising to a challenge. “This was the first time in since I began mentoring that I had seen her do something so difficult, something so intimidating to her,” said Deborah, “and to see her sense of achievement and empowerment because she rose to the occasion was the greatest moment of our time together.” For Deborah’s mentee, this was a moment of transformation from child to young adult, and she will never look back.

This moment would not have happened if Deborah had not been there to support her all the way, so thank you Deborah for everything you do, and congratulations for being our May Mentor of the Month!!

Here is Annel’s winning poem:

Nothing

One pair of golden earrings is what I have treasured since I was three years old.

Just one pair of simple, super small, slippery soft, shiny, golden hoop earrings.

This is all, nothing else.

They are as valuable to me as my life.

My mom just laughs, saying, “Oh, you silly girl, they are just earrings.”

I stopped wearing them, and hid them in a box, for that same reason.

But, to me, they are more than earrings.

They are a memory of little things that I can hardly remember, from when I was small.

But, as I grew older, these memories grew bigger each day of my beginning life.

They are my past, and yet part of me now.

They have been touched by someone’s hands with my own blood.Someone very important and missed,but only by me.

They have been through my first day of kindergarten in Mexico to my first day in the U.S.

They have been through my sixth grade graduation, and through my first year in junior high.

They have been through my first communion.

They will be with me when I graduate high school, go to college, and get my first job.

Even when I meet my true love, marry, and have children, they will still be with me.

I don’t mind remembering him; I don’t care what others say.

No, I don’t regret anything.

I don’t regret who I am; I don’t regret any of my past, not one second.

Because my past has formed me, has made me who I am today.

I am proud of who I am today.

These earrings have been hanging from my ears for 10 years.

They have a precious value that nothing else has.

They never judge me; they just hug my ears, as if they are always listening to me.

These golden earrings are the only thing I have from my father.

They symbolize half of me; they hold half of my memories, and half of my blood.

They represent my father’s absence, and all that I could have had with him.

Especially his love for his only daughter.

March Mentor of the Month

Angela Huffman

Angela and her mentee have enjoyed an amazing year together. The mentee was referred to our program because she needed a positive adult role model who could help her with her self-esteem and academics. Her mentee was moving to a new house and a new school and was a bit worried about the transition. Angela was there to ease her mentee’s concerns by showing up consistently and allowing her to express herself. She became the big sister her mentee always wanted and could confide in.

Angela focused on exposing her mentee to new experiences, and cleverly used her mentee’s love of marine life and art to encourage interest and excitement about a large variety of activities and opportunities. They visited museums, went hiking, spent time whale and dolphin watching, created paintings and drawings together, role played complicated social situations, and worked on homework. Angela even helped her mentee practice public speaking by making presentations to each other on different marine animals, which showed her mentee how academics can be fun and practice can overcome the most difficult challenges. This has tremendously helped Angela’s mentee improve her confidence. Before Angela, her mentee had no interest in attending a college, but now she has been inspired to go to college and earn a degree in Marine Biology!

Even though Angela works and goes to school, she is very dedicated to the program. She attends most, if not all, of Mentor Program events in order to meet new mentors and help her mentee make new friends. Angela also attends the monthly mentor trainings to learn more ways to help out her mentee on various topics. She comes up with creative ways to help her mentee grow as a person, and is always looking for ways to improve. Thank you Angela for being so devoted and doing such an amazing job of encouraging your mentee! Congratulations! You are our Mentor of the Month for March!!!

February Mentor of the Month

Koji Tanaka

Koji Tanaka and his mentee have just celebrated an amazing first year together. His mentee was referred by his mother. Working fulltime and taking care of a new born baby, she felt her son could use a little extra attention, especially academically. After months of being on the waiting list, Koji and his mentee were matched up. They hit it off as soon as they met during their match meeting. Koji and his mentee were both excited to spend time with one another.

Koji has been able to help his energetic mentee focus and work on his reading and vocabulary skills by playing various board games such as Life and Scrabble. He has made learning fun, which has had a positive effect on his mentee’s academics! Koji has also helped his mentee transition into a new school, and improve his self-esteem and confidence. Over the time they have been together, Koji’s mentee has become more open to meeting and interacting with new people. His mentee has gain so much confidence that he ran for class treasurer and won!!! Thank you Koji for being such a dedicated and encouraging mentor! You are our February Mentor of the Month!

January Mentor of the Month

Jeannette Guerra

Jeannette decided she wanted to mentor after watching how the program made an impact on her son.  Being the mother of two boys she looked forward to mentoring a young girl, and due to her lifelong passion of working with kids she was very excited to spend time with a child in need.  

In January 2011, Jeannette was introduced to her mentee, a painfully shy little girl in 3rd grade.  Her mentee is the only girl in her family, and lives with three brothers. Her parents are divorced and work hard to support their kids, so they don’t always have time for them.  Because of her situation, Jeannette’s mentee was very withdrawn and quiet, unused to getting much one on one attention that didn’t involve rough housing with her brothers.  She was getting in trouble at school for not turning in her homework and desperately needed to work on her social skills.  While Jeannette’s mentee was characteristically quiet during their match meeting she quickly started to warm up with every meeting until now, over a year later, Jeannette can't get her to stop talking!

Over the past year, Jeannette and her mentee have participated in various activities, including talking about the importance of school and working on homework, to going to the beach with Jeannette’s family and coming to as many program events as they possibly could.  Jeannette worked with her on so many different areas, provided unconditional support, and cherished every moment she got to spend with her mentee.  Through Jeannette’s amazing warmth and commitment, her mentee has blossomed in one short year. We all look forward to seeing how much they will continue to grow together! Thank you for everything you do, Jeannette, and congratulations for being our January mentor of the month!  You deserve it!

December Mentor of the Month

Mark Mutal

Mark met his 8th grade mentee for the first time about a year and a half ago. His mentee was struggling with his parent’s ongoing divorce. He needed someone to talk to and someone to support him. The mentee emailed or called the mentor program nearly every day, asking for a mentor. Then Mark answered our call. Mark was a perfect fit. He understood this boy's struggles. They also soon discovered a shared love for soccer, animals, and laughter. They hit it off right away and quickly started spending time outside of school; going to watch soccer games at UCSB, doing homework and playing at the Boys and Girls Club, or just walking Mark’s dog around the neighborhood. Mark focused on providing his mentee with consistent emotional support and understanding while exposing him to new and character building activities to improve his confidence and self-esteem. They became fixtures at nearly every mentor program event, from Zodo’s Bowling to Career Night, and Mark even went above and beyond by coming up with suggestions for future event opportunities to enrich the program.

Not only has Mark supported his mentee and the program, he's also made time for his mentee’s younger siblings, including them whenever he could. And then when the siblings were matched up with mentors, he took time to help their new mentors as well! Mark’s consistent support for his mentee, the family, and the program, have made a huge impact on all of us, but the best result is seeing how the painfully shy boy who couldn’t make eye contact, is growing into a confident and accomplished young man. Thank you for all that you do Mark, and congratulations! You are our December mentor of the month!

October Mentor of the Month

Steb Chandor

Steb and his mentee posing
like flamingos at the zoo

Steb and his mentee have been together for over three years. In that time, Steb has seen his mentee grow and develop into an intelligent young man. His mentee was referred to the program because he needed someone who would help him academically and bring him out of his shell. Although his parents were supportive, they were not able to help him academically because they only speak Spanish, so they were very excited to have Steb come into their son’s life. As soon as Steb and his mentee were matched, they began working on math, English, and his homework assignments. By including games such as Scrabble and dominoes, Steb has helped his mentee vastly improve his academics while showing how learning can be fun!

But academics were not the only area Steb’s mentee needed support with, he is also a grade ahead of his age and struggled to relate to his peers. Steb worked with him to improve his interactions with others and encouraged him to try new activities around school. With Steb’s encouragement he has even started playing in the band at his school and Steb makes every effort to attend his band performances. Steb also takes his mentee to many Mentor Program Events so that he has ample opportunity to experience new things and enrich his life. Step has even helped at the Career Day event by participating as a job presenter. Through his great commitment to helping his mentee Steb has become an integral support system and friend and helped a struggling boy blossom into a promising young man. Thank you for all that you do for the program and especially your mentee Steb! Congratulations! You’re our October Mentor of the Month!

September Mentor of the Month!

Kanta MacDermott and her mentee will be celebrating an amazing three years together in October. Her mentee was referred in 2008 and need a mentor who would help her improve her self-esteem, academics, and social skills. Together, they have been able to accomplish these things and many more. Kanta's patience has been a strong factor in developing their mentoring relationship. It wasn't always easy to mentor a young girl whose main interest was playing with her friends. But Kanta stuck with her mentee, encouraged her to develop her artistic skills and creativity, and further her academic achievements. Kanta's consistency has helped her mentee improve in all areas of her life. One of their goals was read three new books over their first year together. They surpassed that goal quickly and Kanta encouraged her mentee to read one book a week during a summer program. Her mentee has become a better reader and actually enjoys reading now! Each year, Kanta makes an effort to reach out to her mentee's teacher to see how she can best help outside of school hours. Beyond academics, Kanta encouraged her mentee to be caring and thoughtful of others, and now we see her mentee say, "please," and "thank you" with a sweet smile at every appropriate moment.

Kanta takes advantage of the many mentor resources to help out develop her mentee's interests. For example, she encouraged her to sign up for the PAL Twelve35 Teen Center to develop her mentee’s passion for arts. They have also created a scrapbook, mosaic art pieces, and other forms of arts and crafts. Kanta goes above and beyond to be that support system and friend that her mentee needs. She takes extra time to look into community events and activities to keep her mentee engaged, especially during the summer months. She helped her sign up for Fun in the Sun and brought her to many Mentor Program events. Thank you for all that you do, Kanta!

August Mentor of the Month!

Tony Tonkin decided he wanted to be a mentor in January of 2009 when the many struggles he encountered in his life, including a near death experience, inspired him to reach out and help a young man work through his own issues. Tony’s vast life experience and eagerness to give back, coupled with a broad range of hobbies from video production and photography to medicine and psychology, made Tony an ideal mentor. Recognizing his unique abilities, his case manager matched him with a 6th grade student struggling academically and socially. Since then, Tony has become a major source of support and encouragement for his mentee, helping him stay away from negative influences and remain positive about life, regardless of the challenges he faces. And he has faced many challenges.

Their relationship started well with trips to new places, going to see movies, playing soccer, working on homework, and even playing video games together. After a couple of months, however, his mentee began suffering from medical problems that affected every aspect of his life. This was a huge burden for his mentee’s family who needed to work to pay for his treatment and struggled with his transportation needs. Tony stuck by his mentee’s side and offered to support him and his family through this difficult time to make sure his mentee made it to his appointments and received all the help he could get. Tony even pulled together his friends to help the family get some essential household needs. He is always looking after his mentee’s health and well-being, and because of his amazing commitment the family has accepted him as one of their own, and is still so grateful for the strength he provides.

Now after almost three years Tony’s mentee has become an easy target to be picked on and influenced by peers because of everything is going through, and the developmental toll of his medical problems. To combat this risk Tony works every week with his mentee on improving his resilience by staying positive, keeping his grades up, exploring his interests and talents, and avoiding those who might want to hurt him. Tony takes him to the zoo, whale watching, museums, and makes sure he has opportunities to explore the world. It is clear that Tony is a major reason his mentee continues to do so well in spite of his challenges, and Tony is optimistic about the future.

Because of your amazing dedication, consistency, and willingness to go above and beyond for your mentee, you are our August Mentor of the Month! Thank you for everything you do, congratulations Tony!!

July Mentor of the Month

David Sheehan

David discovered the Mentor Program in 2006 and realized that this was a perfect way for him to give back to the community and to a child in need. Although he had heard of the program several times before, he finally felt ready to make the time out of his extremely busy schedule. With years of experience coaching youth sports and raising his own teenage son, David knew that he had so much knowledge to share and was eager to start working with any child who needed help and guidance.

David was matched with a sweet and sensitive 6th grade boy struggling with a volatile home life, low self-esteem, poor social skills, and a bad attitude about school. David realized that what his new mentee really needed was just some stability and a friend that he could talk to about anything. For the first year they met every Friday at school and spent half the time going over schoolwork and the other half sharing a fun activity. His mentee showed a natural talent for art, so they would often draw together and share stories from their own lives. Over the year their friendship grew; every hour they spent together seemed to fly by and they always looked forward to the next week. Therefore, they decided to start spending more time outside of school. They tried different sports, visited museums, rode bikes along the beach, and visited places like the zoo where his mentee could relax and just be a kid.

Mentee's winning submission for the 2008 art contest

Now, though David works out of town during the week and is only home on the weekends, he always makes sure to see his mentee. David’s commitment to his mentee has made a clear difference. Within the first year his mentee’s self-esteem shot up and he told their case manager that David “makes me happy”. His social skills also improved and David commented on the how much more conscientious he was when communicating with him and other people. Furthermore, his mentee’s attitude about school changed dramatically because he finally had someone in his life who was a stable, positive influence who pushed him to succeed. Over the years their bond has strengthened and David’s mentee has continued to grow and mature with his constant support and guidance. Now that he is in high school and they have been matched for over four years they both consider their relationship very special and know that it has changed them both for the better.

June Mentor of the Month

Amy Gillespie
We received a referral for a young 6th grade girl in the fall of 2009 when a teacher recognized the impact a difficult family situation was having on this girl's social and academic performance. Just a few months later, this girl was paired with her new mentor, Amy. Amy, a young mother and preschool teacher studying psychology at UCSB Graduate School, looked forward to giving a mentee the emotional and academic support she needed. The match meeting was full of shy smiles and anticipation for the great experiences they knew would come in their time together. They created three goals together: to read together, practice her basketball shots, and learn new skills, like cooking.

That was just over one year ago and in their time together they have accomplished their goals...and so much more. In the beginning they spent time getting to know each other, playing games, and working on relatively simple tasks like making sure to turn in homework on time. As her mentee started trying harder in school, Amy took her to get a library card so they could work on her reading together. Amy also encouraged her to sign up for basketball with the Police Activities League and she loved it.

When her mentee struggled with the rigors of Junior High, Amy searched to find her free tutoring and made sure her mentee knew that she was always there for her no matter what. Under the care of such a dedicated mentor this young girl has truly blossomed; now she is socializing with greater confidence and focusing on academics like never before. Amy has made such a positive impact on her mentee in just one year and we know there are greater things to come. Thank you for your dedication to bettering the life of your mentee, Amy. Congratulations on being named our June Mentor of the Month!

May Mentor of the Month

Juanita Block 
Juanita has met with her mentee since May 2010. When they first met, her mentee had low self-esteem and was very shy.

Since that time, Juanita has engaged her in many opportunities and encouraged her to develop strong and meaningful friendships. She brought her to the Mentor Program Career Event, which encouraged her mentee to step out of her comfort zone and speak with adults who she didn’t know.

Juanita’s mentee experienced difficulty with some kids at her school, so Juanita turned to the Program for help and attended a training on bullying. Through that, she was able to gain a better understanding of how she could be a support system for her mentee.

Juanita now sees her mentee making better decisions, finding strength within herself to hang out with positive influences. This has helped her develop better study habits, priorities, and as a result, better grades.

Thank you so much, Juanita, for being the support system your mentee didn't have and for constantly encouraging her to find strength in herself to make it through to brighter days.

April Mentor of the Month

Mark Golden
Mark and his mentee have been a pair since September of 2009. You are likely to see them all around town, but are most likely to run into them at a UCSB Men's soccer game...their favorite sport to watch together.

Mark makes sure to communicate with his mentee's teacher to be on top of assignments and his grades. Together they have improved his grades to almost all A's. Mark is insistent on making sure his mentee completes and understands his homework, especially in math and science, which have always been of interest to his mentee. Mark makes sure that his mentee is aware of the importance of education, both in school, and out in the world. 

He has exposed him to a lot of different activities to keep his mentee's eyes open to the wealth of opportunities available to him if he puts in a little effort.

It has been fun to see Mark's mentoring relationship develop over the past year and a half. Mark's mentee is now excited about school and about the years ahead of him, and we are all looking forward to his future as well.

Thank you, Mark, for all that you do with your mentee! We are all so fortunate to have you as a volunteer with our program!

March Mentor of the Month

Jennifer Ramirez
Jennifer and her mentee celebrated a year together last November, and have experienced many wonderful and fun things together. At the start of their first meeting, Jennifer’s mentee was very quiet, kept to herself, and found it difficult to trust. She needed help developing a positive self-image and requested guidance academically.

By combining work with play, Jennifer guides her mentee towards accomplishing the goals they set: to open up with others and perform better at school. Her mentee’s improvement has not only been apparent to Jennifer, but also to her teacher and school; she was awarded January Student of the Month at her school!

Jennifer reminds her mentee that she is a constant support and is there to give her advice, no matter what the topic is. Their discussions have been as silly as getting braces, to more serious discussions about relationships, family, school, and tolerance. Jennifer has been instrumental in easing her mentee’s fears about the upcoming transition to junior high by sharing about her own experiences and memories of that time of her life.

Jennifer has created an amazing and welcoming environment for her mentee and has become one of the few people in her mentee’s life that she truly trusts...and we all know how much this means! We really appreciate all that you do Jennifer! Thank you for being such a great mentor!

February Mentor of the Month

Janet Austin
Janet and her mentee have been together for over a year and have already become good friends. The mentee looks up to Janet in many ways and Janet often treats her mentee like a younger sister. Janet works for a local radio station and there are often promotional items that the station wants to throw away. Instead, Janet has found that she can bring those items to the school for use, rather than see them go to waste. For instance, she had hundreds of blank music sheet notes bound in a cover depicting “The Last Song”. She brought them to the music teacher at Canalino and they were able to use the paper if nothing else.

Beyond this, Janet has devoted her academic time with her mentee to focusing on her math. She dedicates an extra hour every week to sit with her in math class and provide her mentee with the attention she needs to focus and complete her math with a better understanding. She even taught her a new game, the “Guacamole Game” as they’ve dubbed it. It allows her mentee to quickly focus on what number of ingredients are needed to complete the recipe. It makes math fun and Janet’s mentee has become quite good at it. She even challenges her classmates and is confident in her math abilities now! Since they have met, her mentee’s math grades have jumped from “Needs improvement” to “Very Good” and have stayed consistent on that level ever since!

Janet makes sure to mix up the academics with fun, as she is quite a kid at heart herself. They have joined us for several program activities, including the Carpinteria Family Health Event, our trip to see the seal pups at the Seal Watch at the Carpinteria bluffs, our hike benefitting the Daniel Bryant Center, and other events. They also have a journal together that allows them to share their thoughts with one another when they cannot be together. Janet has been an amazing influence in her mentee’s life. Thank you so much Janet for all that you do!!

January Mentor of the Month

Ben Williams
Ben and his mentee have been together for a little over a year, and in that short time there has been tremendous growth. Before being referred to the Mentor Program, Ben’s mentee did not always get the support he needed to thrive in school and in life. From the moment they met, they both understood that they were being matched to help improve the mentee’s academics and life skills.

Ben continues to motivate his mentee to read (a huge feat as many of you know) and created fun games to develop study skills thereby improving his language arts & math skills tremendously. They even compete at chess now! 

Furthermore, Ben has stayed by his mentee’s side during the transition from elementary to junior high, a time that brings up sensitive and important issues like drugs and alcohol. Ben isn’t scared to have open and upfront conversations about this because he understands the importance of talking early. Their relationship continues to grow stronger with every meeting. Ben, your mentee is fortunate to have such an amazing mentor, and we are grateful for all that you do.

December Mentor of the Month

Jack Grabman
Jack and his mentee have shared many experiences together over the past 2 1/2 years. One of their favorite activities is fishing, which provides a chance for Jack to have good conversation with his mentee. They also go on bike rides, to car shows, and numerous Mentor program activities. Jack is always looking out for his mentee's best interest, encouraging him to do well in school and explore career options. He's taken him to his workplace and engaged him in learning new musical instruments.

Jack's mentee was unfocused, had low self-esteem, and was on the shy side when he was referred by his teacher. Now, he is well known at his school, has a desire to succeed, and has found confidence in his abilities. Jack has developed a friendship with his mentee's entire family and is always engaged in helping make sure his mentee continues in the right direction. Jack, thank you for always being by his side and supporting him every step of the way, even when times are rough and the future unsure. You are wonderful!!

November Mentor of the Month

Lisa Gosdschan
Although Lisa and her mentee have only been together a year, it seems like they have become family. Her mentee was referred to us because she needed guidance, direction, a healthy purpose in life. Lisa devotes several hours each day to making sure her mentee arrives at school on time, has food, clothing without holes, and has her hair combed and is ready to face the day. Lisa provides the support, care, and attention that every child dreams about.

Lisa not only meets with her mentee's teachers to check in about extra assignments that they can do together, she volunteers in the classroom and with the United Boys & Girls Club. She has opened up the eyes of her mentee by taking her to volunteer to help those even less fortunate. Together, they prepare meals and organize supplies. Lisa teaches her mentee valuable lessons every time they meet, whether that is to help her in the classroom or in the real world. She spends no less than 20 hours a month with her, but we know you can't place a number on their relationship.

Furthermore, Lisa helps us with almost every family event, comes into the office to help the staff, and is a great sounding board for idea development. Lisa, thank you for all of your contributions to this program, especially to your mentee's life. You go above and beyond.