(DES MOINES) - Governor Chet Culver has proclaimed January as Mentoring Month in Iowa. As a former teacher and mentor, Governor Culver is an advocate for mentoring across Iowa. 

"During my time as Governor, I have been committed to ensuring that every child in this state has the tools and resources they need to succeed," Governor Culver said. "But a child's success depends upon more than facts and figures; they must also have real-life experiences and learn from those who came before them. Time spent with a child is not only an investment in that child but an investment in every Iowan, and I want to thank each mentor for their service and encourage others to join them in sharing their skills as mentors to invest in Iowa's bright future."

Every year mentoring programs in Iowa and across the country celebrate the positive impacts of mentoring in January by raising awareness around mentoring, recognizing outstanding mentors and recruiting mentors for the upcoming year. 

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, IOWANS SERVING FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AS MENTORS TO  YOUTH ACROSS THE STATE HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME, TALENTS AND ENERGY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL YOUTH; AND

WHEREAS, CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN MENTORING PROGRAMS GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE GUIDANCE MENTORS OFFER; THESE PROGRAMS HELP RAISE GRADES, SELF CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE; AND

WHEREAS, MENTORS ARE COMPASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS WITH BROAD AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE THAT SERVE AS ROLE MODELS AND BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF IOWA; AND

WHEREAS, MENTORS ARE DOING THEIR PART IN "MOVING IOWA FORWARD" BY HELPING OUR YOUNGEST IOWANS BECOME PRODUCTIVE, CARING, ENGAGED ADULTS WITH AN UNLIMITED FUTURE; AND

WHEREAS, THE IOWA MENTORING PARTNERSHIP WORKS TO INCREASE RESOURCES DEDICATED TO MENTORING, PROMOTE QUALITY STANDARDS FOR MENTORING PROGRAMS, AND EXPAND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF ALL YOUTH:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHESTER J. CULVER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF IOWA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 2011 AS MENTORING MONTH IN IOWA.