Did you know that Newport students with mentors have 82% fewer disciplinary referrals and approximately 50% higher math, reading and writing scores?

According to RI Mentoring Partnership's Marketing and Recruiting Specialist, Marc Mainville, who has worked closely with the Newport School Department for five years, children thought to benefit from the program are referred by guidance counselors, teachers or parents. To date, the program has about 50 mentoring pairs. 

Will Ferguson has been mentoring Trévon at the Cranston-Calvert Elementary School for several years. At first, their time together was spent building a relationship: shooting hoops, talking over lunch. Now, the meetings vary depending on what is going on in Trévon's life. Will uses the term "life coach" to describe his role. Listening and offering encouragement, Will gives Trévon his undivided attention for an hour each week.

 
More mentors are needed, so if you are able to help brighten a child's future, the training and support are provided, and, like in the old school days, you get the summer off! 

To volunteer, contact Marc Mainville at 401-732-7700.