I know the positive impact that mentors have played in my life.

However, there are more than 150,000 young people in Virginia in need of a mentoring relationships with caring adults. And more than 1,500 children are on waiting lists for mentors in local programs.

This is why I'm supporting the Virginia Mentoring Partnership (VMP) and its 2017 End-of-Year Campaign. VMP provides training and on-going support to mentors and mentoring programs across Virginia to increase the quality and quantity of mentoring for Virginia's youth.

Kids who have mentors are less likely to drop out of school or engage in drug and alcohol use, and are more likely to go to and stay in college. They have a more positive outlook on their futures, and stronger relationships with peers and parents.

I've proudly served on the Virginia Mentoring Partnership board for the past six years, and this year I am serving as Chair. I'm passionate about the work we do. 

VMP is trying to raise $25,000 by December 31, 2017 to help us  help sustain VMP financially and allow us to “Move Mentoring Forward.

• We want to move kids off of waiting lists in our partner programs by inspiring volunteers to get involved as mentors.

• We want to move youth mentoring to be a top priority for community leaders and to recognize quality mentoring as an important intervention for kids that help them to succeed in school, meet their goals, and prepare for college and the workforce.

• We want to move VMP into the spotlight and prepare to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2018, and honor the work of our mentors and program partners!

Your gift will go a long way in helping. Any amount will make a difference.

Thankfully yours!

Jeff