At Kids ‘n Kinship, we talk a lot about how the youth in our program benefit from being matched with a mentor because the statistics are strong for mentored youth:
- 92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities
- 85% say this key relationship has helped them with issues related to school and their education
- 74% say that person contributed significantly to their success later in life
However, we don’t talk quite as much about how these mentoring relationships, not only positively affect mentors, but also contribute to better communities. Brad & Becky Lange have been matched with their mentee Gio for one year.
Their highlights are both simple and significant. Their favorite activity with Gio was just playing board games and getting to know him a little better each time. Brad says, “He’s very social and makes friends wherever we go, so it is special to watch him get excited to go places.”
Brad shares that, “I have learned that I have more energy than I thought I would. I think it’s great to step back and look at things through a younger person’s perspective. We have developed a better view of hopefulness, and we are excited to watch him grow. It has been great getting to know Gio. He brightens up our day, and we hope that our lives can make a positive impact on him as he grows up.”