The Gift of a Mentor

Some time ago, my sons and I gave up exchanging Christmas presents and decided instead to donate all the money we would have spent on each other to those we knew were more in need. In the beginning (they were younger then) we took great pleasure pouring over the Heifer Project catalogue and "donating" chickens, rabbits, bees to needy families far away. When I started working at Mobius I came to realize that there was plenty of need in our own back yard. Now, once a year we all sign our names to letters that go to our favorite local nonprofits, who are doing wonderful things right here in our community.  It's one of my favorite things about "the giving season".

I know some people groan when they see all those annual appeal packages in their mailbox, but I love hearing from all my favorite charities. I am inspired by their stories of triumph. And though I am sad to read about the unmet need and I wish my donations could be bigger, I also know there is good news. U.S. charitable contributions have exceeded $200 billion dollars for many years now. American's give away more money that the total economy of most countries. And eighty to ninety percent of donated dollars come from generous individuals - like you, and like me. Seven out of ten people I know, including my sweet sons, my husband, friends, neighbors, and colleagues -all contribute to charitable causes. So I may be only one person, but I am part of a very special and very large group of people who are definitely making a difference.

From now until December 31st, I am in the position of asking you to join the 80 percent of generous individuals who give, and to make Mobius one of your favorite nonprofits. You don't have to give up exchanging Christmas presents; but I do hope you will consider turning your appreciation into support by donating this year. And you can feel really good about this - your donation will be used to help us recruit and train a new mentor, and that's the very best present any child could get this giving season.

Best,

Andrea L. Torello, Executive Director of Mobius

Welcome New Affiliate  

Grand Isle County Mentoring  

Welcome New Program Coordinators!

Mentors and Mentees Get their Hands in the Clay 

The Northeast Regional Mentoring Conference held on October 13 and 14 in Framingham, Massachusetts drew 19 Vermont mentoring professionals from 11 organizations around the state.

Kristen Hayden-West, Program Coordinator of the HowardCenter's Community Friends spoke on mentoring children in kinship care. At Community Friends Mentoring, "Over twenty-five percent of matches are children being raised by family other than parents, this is a growing trend," says Hayden West. "These families have pressures and strengths that are unique to kinship care... it shifts everyone's relations within the family structures, not inconsequentially."

The theme of this year's conference,"Mentoring for Impact," focused on the impact of high quality mentoring, and emphasized not just the importance of finding adult friends for youth, but making long lasting matches. Gabriella Tufo Strouse, Volunteer Coordinator of the King Street Center in Burlington, understands the value in making excellent mentor matches, "The King Street Center believes in building strong relationships - ones that last," said Tufo Strouse, "We do it because we build on shared interests between the child and adult."   

Mobius was one of the six sponsors of the conference, along with host organization Mass Mentoring and partnerships from Connecticut, Maine, New York, and Rhode Island in collaboration with MENTOR, the National Mentoring Partnership and the Mentor Consulting Group.  To read more, check out our blog.  

  Mentor Profile - Meet Toby Knox  

Toby, a proud member of the Mobius Board of Directors, with a former mentee.

Name: Toby Knox   

Program: Everybody Wins! VT  

Town: Shelburne _

Business: Toby Knox and  

Associates, LLC

Age of Current Mentee: 9

Referred by Mobius in: 2004

Favorite Things About Mentoring: "After being matched with a mentee for multiple years you find continuity. But with a new match there is an aspect of starting fresh. Learning about the child, his family, what he likes, the challenges he faces. It will be fun developing that relationship. I like the fact that I am, in some way, helping a child to either become a better reader, or helping to give them an appreciation for words. It is rewarding, and fun."

Favorite Activities:  "Simple word search games and cross word puzzles help contribute to a better understanding of words, and it certainly doesnt hurt when it comes to reading."    

Activities For Mentor Pairs

 
2011-2012 Mobius Mentor Discount Card 

Support for Mentor Training   

Join Us In November!