HELP USA’S Mentoring Program Joins White House to Help Close Mentoring Gap

16:23PM on June 30 2010

Tuesday, June 30, 2010 New York, NY) A capacity crowd attended the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service issue forum on mentoring as a solution to the school drop-out crisis, where speakers included Joshua DuBois of the White House Office of Faith Based Initiatives, Matilda Cuomo of Mentoring USA, Dr. Larry Wright of MENTOR and Karen Mathis of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

More than 150 participants from the public and private sectors witnessed the commitment from these organizations to unite in their efforts to keep children in school.
In his introductory remarks, DuBois noted that:

• 1.3 million American students drop out of high school each year.
• One-third of all children and one-half of low income and minority youth fail to graduate on time.
• Of minority students who enroll in college, only 10 percent graduate.
• Only 3 percent of today's jobs are available to unskilled employees.
• The 2,000 lowest performing schools are located in 170 communities.

He also said evidence suggests that mentoring can help keep students in school, out of trouble and working to achieve their potential as individuals and as citizens. "This is why these organizations have united to start Academic Achievement through Mentoring, an initiative targeted at matching young people in these 170 communities with mentors who can change their lives and keep them in school learning," DuBois said.

 "Mentoring USA's school based on site model of matching  children with caring, responsible adults has made tremendous impact on academic success. At-risk youth with mentors have higher rates of grade completion, high school attendance and higher education," said Matilda Cuomo, founder and Chairwoman of Mentoring USA.  

Mentoring USA, a program of HELP USA, was founded by former first lady of New York, Matilda Raffa Cuomo. It is an effective, early-intervention mentoring program to prevent school dropout. By providing mentors at schools, community centers and foster care agencies, Mentoring USA helps children, ages 7 to 21, improve their self esteem, through financial literacy training, nutrition and wellness, and bias-related anti-violence education.
For more information about quality mentoring, visit www.mentoring.org.