Sponsor - Living in Purpose Foundation

Give Purpose

Did you know Augusta, Georgia ranks at the bottom of the Child Opportunity Index? Purpose Center exists to enable the youth of Augusta to reach their fullest potential, eradicate statistics, strive for success, and achieve their dreams.

All of this is made possible by the generous donors who see this potential in our youth.

Donate today to help us continue changing lives in Augusta.

Sponsor A Child

Benefits of Mentoring for Young People

According to youth.gov, the supportive, healthy relationships formed between mentors and mentees are both immediate and long-term and contribute to a host of benefits for mentors and mentees.

BENEFITS FOR YOUTH

Increased high school graduation rates
Lower high school dropout rates
Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
Better attitude about school
Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational aspirations
Improved behavior, both at home and at school
Stronger relationships with parents, teacherrs, and peers
Improved interpersonal skills
Decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use (MENTOR, 2009; Cavell, DuBois, Karcher, Keller, & Rhodes, 2009)

POSITIVE ATTITUDES

Teachers of students in the BELONG mentoring program reported that students participating in mentoring were more engaged in the classroom and also seemed to place a higher value on school than students who did not have mentors (Blakely, Menon, & Jones, 1995).

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

Better academic performance. A 1995 study of the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program found mentored youth earned higher grades than a similar group of young people who did not have mentors (Tierny, Grossman, & Resch, 1995). Further, the 2007 study of the program found youth in school-based mentoring programs turned in higher quality class work, did better academically (especially in science and written and oral communication), and completed more of their assignments than their peers who did not have mentors.

BETTER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Youth with mentors had fewer unexcused absences from class than students without mentors (Tierny, Grossman, Resch, 2000; Herrera, Grossman, Kauh, Feldman, McMaken, & Jucovy, 2007). For example, youth participating in the Across Ages mentoring program showed a gain of more than a week of classes attended, compared with those youth not participating in the program (Jekielek et al., 2002).

POTENTIAL BEHAVIORAL BENEFITS

Decreased likelihood of initiating illegal drug and alcohol use. A BBBS study showed youth with mentors were less likely to begin using drugs or alcohol during the eighteen-month period of the study than their peers. Specifically, 6.2 percent of youth with mentors initiated drug use compared to 11.4 percent of their peers without mentors, and 19.4 percent initiated alcohol use compared to 26.7 percent.

Young Kings (Mentees) Sign Up for MIT Today!

Men In Training aims to partner caring adults with hurting children in an effort to prevent academic failure, criminal activity, drug abuse, and other serious risk behaviors.

Young Kings Join Here

Mentors Join Here