Partners has provided me with an intensive opportunity to mentor a 13 year old, which has led to a rewarding five-year friendship full of laughs and good talks. I have grown in my understanding of the culture and challenges of growing up now, and my mentee is now goal-oriented and well positioned to go off to college.
Partners is a well-run organization steeped in a positive and effective philosophy for early intervention and youth success. I give it my very highest recommendation.
For over 45 years Partners’ youth mentoring has held great promise in helping young people succeed in life. Studies provide strong evidence that one-to-one mentoring relationships reduce the incidence of delinquency, substance use, and academic failure. Further, these mentoring Partnerships promote positive outcomes, such as improved self-esteem, social skills, and knowledge of career opportunities. At the same time, Partners is benefiting another group of youth through our GRASP program (GANG RESCUE AND SUPPORT PROJECT) which helps youth leave the gang subculture through group meetings, educational support, assistance with job hunting, and recreational and cultural experiences. This nationally acclaimed program is exceedingly effective in rescuing youth caught in the devastating gang life-style. Your donation will not only change these young people’s lives, it will make our communities safer.