This holiday season, I am grateful for the mentors I have had in my life and for their gifts to me -  which I draw upon on my best days, and at my most stressful times.

As a working mom, I think about the importance of balance, as modeled for me by my mentors. I honor the idea of being present, whether it is for my son Henry and my husband Will, or for my team at work or when I am with my friends.  I feel the responsibility of being an engaged citizen and community member, whether it is volunteering at my son's school on the Teacher Appreciation Committee or showing up in support and solidarity when current events affect my local community or places like Charlottesville that are close to my heart. 

Many of us are lucky to count parents, teachers, coaches, advisors and camp counselors among our mentors. But there are thousands of children and teens in our communities without a mentor to guide and support them along the way. One of the things we do at Virginia Mentoring Partnership (VMP), the organization where I have worked for the past 4.5 years, is to help find mentors for those children, and support the programs that connect with them. Kids need mentors, and mentors need VMP.

Taking the time to honor some of my mentors gives me a chance to reflect; working at VMP and being a mentor myself gives me the chance to act.  And I am asking my friends, family and colleagues to join me and help make it possible for more mentors to be trained and matched with a child. This year, our campaign "Moving Mentoring Forward" is all about being part of the movement to serve more kids, so no one feels alone or without support. Will you be a part of this movement? Will you honor your mentors, and pay it forward with a gift to VMP? 

Thank you for helping me to reach my goal, and for supporting my work!

With love and gratitude,
Elizabeth