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Get Involved: Partners Mentoring Youth

 
Partners Mentoring Youth is dedicated to Northern Colorado youth who are facing significant challenges in their lives. Founded in 1978, the organization is dedicated to providing one-to-one mentoring relationships between positive adult role models and youth facing challenges in their personal, social, and academic lives.

“No matter where your skills are, you can make a difference just by being around them,” says Bill Heideman, a volunteer and Senior Partner.
Volunteer mentors participate in a multitude of activities with their young clients. Sports, movies, cooking, camping, fishing, and school work all make great activities, but according to Program Coordinator Gail Shatz, it’s all about “just having fun.”   “It’s really about friendship, Shatz says, “and you hope that goes on for a long, long, long time.” 

The initial volunteer commitment for both mentors and youth is for one year. About 70% of partnerships continue past the first year, and some partnerships are entering their fifth and sixth years. After one year in our programs, youth with mentors gain relationship and interpersonal skills, more confidence, improved attitudes about substance use, and hope for the future. 

To find out more about Partners Mentoring youth, click here.

To volunteer, click here.  

In Routt County, click here.

Get Involved is a monthly feature dedicated to spotlighting local non-profits. It is produced by KUNC, but separate from  KUNC News. If you know of an organization that you’d like to hear featured on Get Involved, email comment@kunc.org