73% stated that their mentors helped them raise their goals and expectations.
87% went directly to college or planned to attend college within one year after graduating from high school
Benefits:Mentoring is a proven strategy that strengthens the internal assets of children, producing resilient, healthy adults. Research shows that mentoring consistently produces a multitude of benefits in the lives of children, families, businesses and communities.
1. Mentoring provides and opportunity for businesses to encourage their employees to contribute to its community relations efforts.
2. Help a school tap into its community's human resources by bringing them into our schools to encourage students to achieve their dreams.
3. Establish a meaningful relationship with a young person.
National Research on mentoring shows that children who meet regularly with a mentor are:
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52% less likely than their peers to skip school
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46% less likely to start using illegal drugs
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33% less likely to engage in violence
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feel more supported and less criticized by their peers and friends
The Portland Mentoring Alliance was established in 1992, and over the past seven years volunteer employees from businesses throughout Greater Portland have been matched with Portland High School students to create supportive mentoring relationships.
In 1997 UNUMProvident, Maine Medical, City of Portland, Berry Dunn McNeil &Parker, Portland High School and the Portland Partnership joined together to form PMA and just recently, Maine Career Advantage, Mitchell Institute, PricewaterhouseCoopers has become affiliated with the Alliance.
Each business offers a unique and vital contribution to the mentoring program; UNUMProvident mentors create opportunities to guide and counsel others; MMC's focus is on the school to career transition, vocational rehabilitation, and the placement of individuals with disabilities; and the Portland Partership serves to expand the base of both volunteers and students who participate in the mentoring program.
Since the inception of the program, the Portland Mentoring Alliance has helped more than half of the participating students improve their grades, critical thinking skills and overall confidence levels.
