Celtics season-ticket donation program
The Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation has again chosen MMP - and by extension, our network of 165+ mentoring programs - as a community partner for its ticket exchange program.

This program allows Celtics' season-ticket holders to donate extra tickets back to the Shamrock Foundation through the Season-Ticket Holder All Access page, which then distributes the tickets for use by mentors and mentees from programs across Massachusetts. Last season, the value of the donated tickets was more than $150,000.


Patriots & Match of the Game
For the sixth consecutive season, Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork and his wife Bianca have teamed up with MMP and 98.5 The Sports Hub to provide mentor-mentee matches the chance to attend a Patriots home game as the Wilforks' special guests.

MMP selected matches for each of the eight home games - read more about those who have already attended the games, as well as the program itself.

In our last communication, the Governor had just vetoed the state's mentoring line item, and we were working with our legislative mentoring champions to override the veto.

Thankfully, the House approved a supplemental $40 million budget that included $100,000 for mentoring.

A letter - circulated among House members by Rep. Pignatelli - had 26 representatives' signatures, conveying the message that mentoring had broad support. We are grateful to Rep. Pignatelli and the other signees for demonstrating their support, and believe that it played a critical role in getting the funding included in the supplemental budget.

Additionally, in October MMP successfully advocated to save the mentoring line item from the Governor's recommended emergency 9c budget cuts. 

We want to help build mentoring programs' capacities to advocate for themselves and strengthen relationships with their legislators. Consequently, MMP teamed up with the Massachusetts Service Alliance to co-sponsor a training called "Developing Positive Relationships with Community & Public Leaders," led by Judy Meredith, an acclaimed human services lobbyist.

Earlier this month, Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral celebrated the Mentors of Color campaign (MOC) and highlighted mentoring success stories at her fundraising event at the Hampshire House in Boston.

The night featured special guest Chris Gardner, whose powerful "rags to riches" story was featured in the film "The Pursuit of Happyness." Chris spoke about mentors that changed his life, and showcased two matches who spoke about their own mentoring relationships.

For more information on the Mentors of Color Campaign, or to sign up to volunteer please visit www.youcanmentor2.org.

More than 2,000 cyclists and hundreds of volunteers participated in this year's Rodman Ride for Kids, held Sept. 26 in southeastern Massachusetts.

MMP staff members Elena Sokolow-Kaufman, Felipe Suarez, and Katie Stebbins participated in the Ride, alongside Elie St. Brice (husband of MMP AmeriCorps Program Manager Mallory St. Brice) and Alix Zamansky (daughter of VP & COO Sue Anne Endelman). Congratulations to our amazing MMP team - they raised $4,400!

In addition, MMP facilitated corporate teams from Liberty Mutual and Bank of America, as well as expanded the involvement of mentoring programs riding and raising money under MMP's leadership. Teams from AFC Mentoring, Friends of the Children - Boston, and Partners for Youth With Disabilities raised a combined total of more than $12,000.

There's still time to help MMP reach our fundraising goal of $225,000 - donations are accepted through Nov. 30. Donate now.