It’s human nature to want to lend a hand and enjoy the personal satisfaction of helping others. Do you have free time on your hands? Are you willing to take a step away from your everyday routine and try something different that’s certain to pay back happy emotional rewards to you?
All of us at HP have been fortunate, otherwise we wouldn’t be here enjoying our piece of paradise. Sure, we all feel we worked hard, earned what we accomplished, and took advantage of the opportunities available to us. Would you be willing to offer the knowledge you’ve learned to help a few young children in need of guidance from successful adults?
You don’t need any training. All you need is to have a heart. HP’s Tom Power has adopted a Mentoring Program (proven by 10 years of success at Lexington Country Club) at the Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School (Winkler Ave and Challenger Blvd) to help 5th graders. Seven HP volunteers have been meeting with 12 students. Teams of two volunteers sit with groups of four students and work through a Mentor Program Manual, reviewing what Tom calls the Six Pillars of Integrity:
• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Caring
• Being a Good Citizen
Specific topics include:
• Promoting self confidence
• Getting kids to “come out of themselves”
• Building character
• Developing a “can do” attitude
• Striving to do your best
• Setting good examples
• Being a role model
• Creating positive relationships
• Practicing The Golden Rule
• Eliminating meanness
• Resisting peer pressure
• Becoming a leader
• Exploring career ideas
The annual Mentoring Program consists of six classroom meetings and six field trips on Wednesdays, over a four-month (Dec – April) period. The classroom sessions run roughly from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including lunch; and the field trips (a ballgame, a visit to the local police station, etc.) take a few hours.
The current HP mentors are enjoying this great experience and are enthusiastic about the program. “We’re trying to show the kids that there’s people who care about them and to give them the sense that the path to success in life is to work hard in school, so you can get a good job and have the chance to reach your potential. We want to ignite a spark in them so they understand that a secure life is available to them. We’re building better people. These kids will have a better chance of success with this opportunity.”
Tom received an email from a teacher at the Pottorf School about a recent field trip: “I can’t express how grateful we are for you and the men. The boys came back and were ranting and raving about what an amazing time they had. The experiences you gave them today bring tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! I hope you all know what a difference you make. Your work and dedication make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.”
The mentors would like to expand the group to 15 mentors for 24 kids. They really need you!
CLASSMATES, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS AT “GRADUATION” CEREMONY
You can contact Tom at [email protected] or (603) 520-6245, or Lou Bottitta at [email protected] or (484) 788-2160. Any of the other mentors would also be happy to answer questions and share their experience with you: Mike Bondy, Dennis Hayes, Mike Loucy, or Jeff Sweeney.
Lou Bottitta writes, “We are pleased to republish Bob Breisch’s excellent overview of our Mentoring Program, which was launched last year at Pottorf Elementary School.
As we prepare for this year’s program (January–March 2025), we’re reaching out to recruit volunteers, particularly retirees interested in sharing their career experiences with the boys, as well as donors and sponsors.”
