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A mentor for every child that needs one...
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April 7, 2006
Press Release: Local mentoring program poised for growth as an incorporated non-profit agency.
The SouthCoast Mentoring Initiative for Learning, Education and Service, or SMILES, was incorporated this morning as a separate non-profit organization at a meeting attended by approximately 100 trustees at Umass Dartmouth. The event included the naming of the founding trustees, approval of the bylaws and election of the directors. Dartmouth resident Joel Burns, the director of human resources for the Standard Times, was elected president of the board of directors. There was also a presentation of SMILES history, and a video and slide presentation with remarks from SMILES executive director Jim Mathes.
SMILES has existed as a mentoring program in the New Bedford Public School system for the past two and a half years. It has been overseen by a number of agencies including the New Bedford Chamber of Commerce, PAACA and the New Bedford Prevention Partnership. It matches adult mentors with students who would benefit from the additional attention. Currently, there are mentoring programs underway at Normandin and Keith Middle Schools in New Bedford. With the incorporation of SMILES, the goal is to greatly expand the availability of mentoring programs in the New Bedford and the Fall River school systems for students at every level from elementary through high school.
SMILES has received initial funding of approximately $100,000 to date. A majority of that amount has come from the Amelia Peabody Foundation, which is dedicated to addressing community needs, especially for inner city youth. SMILES will be holding a mentor recruitment event on May 25th at New Bedford High School. The organization hopes to attract 1,500 mentors over the next five years.
The mentoring initiative is designed to encourage students to stay in school and earn their high school diplomas. Supporters of SMILES believe strongly that it will play a significant role in reducing the high school dropout rate over the next several years. Not only will that improve the opportunities for those individuals who might otherwise have chosen not to complete their high school education, it will also increase the potential of the SouthCoast region as an attractive place for companies to locate.
Contact: SMILES executive director James Mathes
(508) 999-5231
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