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"I couldn't ask for a better birthday present" -Partners for Youth With Disabilities mentor Larry Warnock, on his mentee, AJ, winning a scholarship (below)
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One word can befittingly sum up last week's Champions of Mentoring Breakfast: inspiring.Pride was evident as mentors spoke admiringly of their mentees, such as when Boston Scholars mentor Ryan Robertson, whose mentee, Demetrius Lester was co-winner of a KELLY  scholarship, told the crowd, "Demetrius is probably one of the most resilient people I've ever known."
In a moving tribute to our late Board Chair, Jim Connolly, who passed away at the beginning of the year, we announced the launch of the James G. Connolly Tribute Fund, with the first award going to mentee Staci Davidson of Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, who grew up in Jim's childhood neighborhood of South Boston and excelled in school while working two jobs. "I'm so grateful to the Connollys and MMP for bestowing this honor upon me," Staci said.
Our Champions honorees - people who've long supported mentoring - showcased their undeniable devotion to Massachusetts youth, with honoree Don  Rodman acknowledging, "that was the best introduction I've ever received" after being introduced by 9-year-old Bianca Harper, with the assistance of her mentor Lisa Adler from Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters. Our other Champions award winners were Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral and State Sen. Stan Rosenberg.The emotions were not lost on the 350 people in attendance, who set a new fundraising record by donating more than $210,000 in support of MMP's goal to double the number of youth in mentoring relationships - to 40,000 - by 2013.All photos above courtesy of Morgan Ione Yeager
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