WELCOME

Mentoring is a great fun way to make a difference in the life of a child.

WINTER 2010 Newsletter is here - click on the link at right!

Click on mentor and child profiles (above) to learn about some of the children waiting for a mentor.

Please save your used HP, Dell or Lexmark print cartridges for us - we can redeem them for office supplies - bring to our next event or mail to us at Kids 'n Kinship, 14870 Granada Ave, #127, Apple Valley, MN  55124. Thank you!

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Kids ‘n Kinship wins local Touchstone Energy Community Award

Dakota Electric Association named Kids ‘n Kinship as the local 2009 Touchstone Energy Community Award winner. Angel Foundation, Minneapolis, and Minnesota Valley Humane Society’s Pet Visitation program, Burnsville, were named runners-up, and each of the three applicants received a plaque and a check for $500.

“Dakota Electric is proud to be able to recognize these organizations doing great work in our local communities,” said Greg Miller, Dakota Electric’s president and chief executive officer. “As a member-owned cooperative, we are committed to our local communities and this is a way to encourage and honor those who are like-minded.”

Kids5913: Dakota Electric Directors Janet Lekson (L) and Paul Trapp (R) presented the Touchstone Energy Community Award to Jan Belmore, director of Kids ‘n Kinship.

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2009 Christian Elder Memorial 900

Fourth Annual Charity Ride for Kids

The Christian Elder Memorial 900 was a big success! For information about the ride, inspirational stories and fun photos, check out the website at www.cem900.com.

Special thanks to John Elder, president of Elder-Jones, Inc., a Minneapolis-based retail and restaurant construction company and long time Kids 'n Kinship mentor, who says “It’s amazing what a mentor can do in a young person’s life and, in turn, what the young person can do for you.” and to Merchants Bank www.merchantsbank.com/twincities, for sponsoring the ride.

Match Highlight -  Kids ‘n Kinship School Based Mentoring 

Fun for Both! That is the response from 7 year old Annie who is matched with volunteer mentor, Amy, when asked why people should consider mentoring.
Amy likes to see Annie smile and enjoys having fun with her. She appreciates how perceptive she is and says she is very smart. Amy and Annie meet at school for an hour each week during the school year. Although Annie likes school and her teacher, she welcomes the opportunity to have one to one attention with reading and writing. Amy says Annie reads very well now and often there is a fun card or story written by Annie, waiting for her when she arrives at school. “Annie is very creative; she has great ideas. She started a craft book of flags – a flag for me, for her, for Valentines Day and Halloween. I would never have thought of this!”

During summer and school breaks they get together and go to a park, walk Amy’s dog, or play games and have pizza. When I met up with them they were at the library and Annie had received two prizes in recognition of the last five books she had read through the reading club they had joined earlier. Amy says being a mentor is very rewarding. “I am proud of Annie and all of her accomplishments. I get to spend time with a student and to have fun with a remarkable girl. I feel good about myself when I mentor and the very flexible schedule works well with my job at Thomson Reuters.” Annie likes mentoring too: “because I get to read to her and go places with Amy; she comes up with fun ideas; my favorite place to go with Amy is Cici’s pizza - and she is good at the matching game.” Actually, says Amy, “Annie helps me with the matching game.”

They like being a match and sharing their mutual love of crafts, dogs and reading (Annie's favorite books are Junie B Jones). “It’s fun for both!” says Annie.

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The Kids ‘n Kinship school based mentoring program operates in two Eagan schools. If you are ready to have fun getting to know a child and helping them be successful at school – or would like more information about our program, please contact Rita Younger, Kids 'n Kinship at 651-686-0990 or scroll above, click on mentor, then school based mentoring.

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