Partners Mentoring Youth helps save kids
January 10, 2007, The Fort Collins Coloradoan

By GERARD NALEZNY

January is National Mentoring Month and is thus an appropriate time to recognize the importance of mentoring in general, and Partners Mentoring Youth in specific.

The big-picture problems of youth crime, dropouts, drug and alcohol abuse are a fact of life. Recent events in Denver have brought these issues all too close to home. As a society, and as individuals, we can face these issues proactively and preventatively or reactively in a punitive fashion.

The personal and economic costs of a proactive approach are obviously advantageous. The real question is, "What can one person do to have an impact?"

There is an old saying that goes, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." Through Partners, you can take "one bite," making a positive difference in one child's life.

Partners Mentoring Youth pairs adult volunteers with kids aged 8 to 17 facing challenges in their lives. In the Partners program, mentors are encouraged to just "hang out" at least three hours a week and be a positive, reliable, trusted presence in a child's life. Mentors encourage "junior partners" to do well, make smarter choices and improve life skills, while enjoying a special friendship with a child.

Of the 218 youth Partners served last year, 42 percent improved school performance and 65 percent reduced delinquent behavior. The youth showed greater self-confidence and self-esteem, were more drug-free and more future-oriented. Each child only costs Partners $1,500 a year. But over a lifetime, one study shows, taxpayers will pay $380,000 for a child who drops out, $520,000 for a drug abuser and $1.15 million for a criminal. The district attorney estimates 2,000 Larimer County children facing challenges could benefit from a mentor.

Partners urgently needs adult volunteers. There are many ways to get involved: become a Senior Partner to one of nearly 100 youngsters on the waiting list, help supervise our events and activities or volunteer at a fund-raising event. If you can't volunteer your time, I encourage you to make tax- deductible donation of money or in-kind contributions of goods and services to this nonprofit 501c3 organization.

We invite you to attend an upcoming informational meeting.

To introduce mentoring to people who might possibly want to serve as Senior Partners or help in other ways, Partners will hold informational meetings open to the public at noon Jan. 31, and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9, at the Partners Fort Collins office at 528 S. College Ave. Phone 484-7123 or e-mail partners@partnersmentoringyouth.org.

Gerard Nalezny is a banker and Partners board member who lives in Fort Collins.