March 13, 2006
Do you remember when you were a kid? Which grownup do you remember most?
A special teacher? Your coach? A volunteer? It just takes one day. It just takes one caring adult. It just takes one Boys & Girls Club. Who changed your life?
SOMETIMES, all that young people want and need is someone who will listen to them and care about their challenges and dreams for the future.
Traditionally, this important role is filled by parents, but in a world in which single-parent households and two parent working parents are all too common and children are sometimes forced by economic and societal pressures to grow up too fast, young people are often left in need of positive adult influences in their lives.
It is for that reason that mentoring is so important and why so many more volunteers are needed.
Common sense would indicate that a positive adult influence in a young person's life can have a considerable impact on helping children and youth choose the right paths.
We believe mentoring a youth changes the world two lives at a time.
Research is clear that mentoring helps young people establish goals, improve school performance, stay out of trouble and, perhaps just as important, simply feel important.
What is less talked about, however, is the extraordinary contribution this experience makes in the life of a mentor. A survey by AOL-Time Warner found that 99% of those in formal mentoring programs say they would recommend it to others.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme believe that with more caring adult volunteers we will have a greater chance of helping even more young people become caring and responsible adults.
That is why we have teamed up with the Mayors' of Oxnard and Port Hueneme Dr.Tom Holden and Tony Volante respectively to kick off our 2006 Annual fund Mayors' Campaign for Kids...”It Just Takes One”
The Mayors' Campaign “It Just Takes One” conveys the idea that every person who cares can do something to help our next generation. It is a marketing/fundraising campaign that is encouraging the help of those that are in a position to help financial or through volunteerism to help those that need us the most. The real goal is to turn this Campaign into a Community Campaign for Kids…! More neighbors helping neighbors, parents, and caring adults stepping in and up and giving whatever they can to this advance this important imitative.
We know that m entoring and volunteer programs are not a substitute for a caring family.
However, we know that community support, and a concerted effort to make our youth a priority can help us create a community that is second to none when it comes to giving children hope and opportunity,
For more information on how you can help with the Mayors' Campaign for Kids please go to www.positiveplace4kids.org or contact me at 805-815-4959 x 203
To find out more about the Boys & Girls Club in your area, contact:
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