When you look back on your youth, chances are that you can think of one or perhaps several people who shared their wisdom and guidance with you. Perhaps it was a favorite teacher or coach. Maybe it was a volunteer with an organization like the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts. Or maybe your mentor was someone who helped you navigate the landscape at your first job.
When you look back on your youth, chances are that you can think of one or perhaps several people who shared their wisdom and guidance with you. Perhaps it was a favorite teacher or coach. Maybe it was a volunteer with an organization like the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts. Or maybe your mentor was someone who helped you navigate the landscape at your first job.
However they came into your life, these mentors likely played a fundamental part in your development, setting the foundation for a successful future.
Mentors share not only their knowledge, but also their encouragement. They are your cheerleaders, letting you know not only how to succeed, but instilling in you the belief that you can succeed. Knowing that someone believes in you can change the trajectory of your life.
But mentoring doesn’t only benefit the mentee. Mentors and other types of volunteers often say they get more out of the relationship than they could have imagined, with their own feelings of happiness, well-being and purpose in life increased dramatically.
At North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, we are blessed to have many people who serve as mentors. Our Board Members all have expertise in a variety of areas, from marketing to finances, and we are thankful that they share their expertise with us.
Outside of our board, dedicated supporters such as Michael Leeds and Dan Donnelly provide us with guidance on a host of issues. And partners such as Neiman Marcus Roosevelt Field, National Grid and PSEG Long Island also make meaningful contributions as volunteers.
We’re so grateful to all of those who contribute to our mission, as their generosity plays a vital role in enabling us to provide lifesaving services to the children and families in our community.
How You Can Help
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center counts on mentors to devote their time and compassion by volunteering for two of our programs. At our Children’s Center at Nassau County Family Court, we provide care and an early learning environment to children ages six weeks to 12 years while their parents or guardians are conducting court business. Volunteers read and play with the children, and that interaction is sometimes the most rewarding time the children (and the volunteers!) have all week.
With our Learning to Learn Center tutoring program, volunteers offer to tutor students from the early grades through high school. We’re always looking for tutors with knowledge in all areas, including math, science, reading and more.
All volunteers (18 or older) have their own unique schedules and flexibility.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Children’s Center at Nassau County Family Court, please contact Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust at (516) 997-2926, ext. 229, or email NTaylorWalthrust@northshorechildguidance.org.
To find out more about our tutoring program, contact Gerri Lima at (516) 997-2926, ext. 239, or email GLima@northshorechildguidance.org.
If your company is interested in creating a volunteer initiative with the Guidance Center, please contact Lauren McGowan at (516) 626-1971, ext. 320 or email LMcGowan@northshorechildguidance.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Why You Should Be a Mentor
From Stand-Together.org, here are five benefits of mentoring others.
- Help someone realize their potential. We all have unique talents and gifts. Activating the potential in someone by celebrating their talents empowers them to improve their own life, achieve their goals, and help others.
- Give back to your community. The most impactful way to improve your community is to spend time investing in it. Mentoring youth in your community is a powerful way to invest in the next generation.
- Learn more about yourself. Meaningful relationships are a two-way street. Learn more about your strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, experience and beliefs by sharing them with someone else.
- Change someone’s life. An intentional relationship has the power to alter a person’s life – particularly youth – for the better. You may be the only stable, positive impact in a youth’s life. The ripple effect is tremendous.
- Become a better leader. Investing in the life of someone else challenges your perspective, sharpens your interpersonal skills, and exposes you to different decision-making approaches. Mentoring gives you the opportunity to learn by doing.
