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 For as long as there have been children, there have been mentors, interested, caring people who take the time to help children learn, grow, and make positive choices. All children need mentors, and the GRIP (Great Relationships in Pairs) mentoring program helps to ensure that children in our community are matched with supportive role models who fill this important role.
The mentor’s job description is simple—have fun and grow a friendship! The program offers training to make sure the mentor understands their new role, knows what to do when questions arise, and is ready to get started, and supplies basic materials, such as games, craft supplies, athletic equipment, at each program site to help each new match get started on identifying their common interests. Mentoring program staff stay in touch to make sure the match is going well and to help out as needed. Program staff also plan group social events several times each year—this year, participants have attended an ISU football game, and will visit Reiman Gardens, enjoy a movie and pizza party, and win big prizes at GRIP’s Bingo Night.
Most GRIP matches take place at school, where mentors meet weekly for 45 minutes to an hour with their mentees, children who have been referred by teachers, counselors, or parents because they would benefit from the extra attention and interest a mentor provides. Some children are referred because they’re new to our community, others because they’re experiencing changes at home, struggling academically or socially, or just need a caring person to talk to.
Mentors and mentees have a great time together and learn from each other, but that’s just the beginning of the impact of mentoring. Our outcome evaluations show that mentored children improve in academic achievement, classroom behavior and attitude, and self-confidence. They’re less likely to initiate drinking, tobacco use, or abuse of illegal drugs. And nearly 60% of last year’s GRIP matches were two or more years in duration, a testimonial to just how much fun our mentors and mentees have together.
The Ames Morning Rotary Club has been supportive of GRIP for the past several years, providing generous contributions to the spring mentoring banquet which brings together all program participants for a great night out. We’re still waiting for the first Morning Rotary mentor—could it be you? We’re especially in need of volunteers to help us keep the MEN in MENtoring—if you could pass a background check and need a little more fun in your own life, call Jane Acker (232-4332, x402) for more information!
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