Boys2Men volunteers mentor 5th-grade boys at Pottorf Elementary. That’s the part most people know. What we haven’t talked about as much in the past is how we try to help in other ways.
This year that meant purchasing a "feelings rug" and a printer for school counselor Marlene Otero, who works with many of the same boys we mentor. Walk into her room and watch her with the students, and you’ll see why she’s effective. At a Boys2Men briefing last year, she told us she has numerous severely depressed children and at least one suicidal child each year.
Helping also meant Boys2Men clearing an overgrown patch behind the school into a quiet retreat area for students and teachers. We planted a garden and furnished the area with a table and chairs. This was a service project completed by the HP volunteers working side by side with our 12-year-old, 5th grade students.
This is the year it matters even more. The School District of Lee County eliminated 457 positions for 2026–27 — 275 of them teacher roles — against a deficit reported at roughly $46.7 million. Central office departments were directed to cut 5%, and principals at every school were told to submit their own budget plans aimed at protecting classroom instruction. Source: WGCU School District of Lee County
And the teaching here is worth protecting. The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools has run the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program for nearly four decades. Thousands of community nominations are narrowed to thirty finalists, and then to just six. In early 2026, Pottorf’s music teacher, Ms. Elizabeth O’Connor, was one of them, honored at the Golden Apple awards reception. Last year, she and some of her students performed at the HPLGA’s golf luncheon.
Why Boys2Men Mentoring works. A 2019 meta-analysis in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence pooled 70 mentoring outcome studies covering 25,286 young people, average age 12, and found significant positive effects across all youth outcomes. Effects were larger in programs serving more male youth with more male mentors, and larger where meetings were shorter — weekly small-group sessions. Source: PubMed. MENTOR puts the return on effective mentoring at roughly $2.72 to $3 for every dollar spent. It’s also been shown to have an effect on the significant high school dropout problem across our nation. The following source provides details: MENTOR.
What your gift funds. Boys2Men volunteers give two to three hours a week from December through April, working through the Six Pillars of Integrity, plus field trips. Boys2Men leaders have worked many hours the last few years getting the program started, improving class content, applying for grants, and arranging field trips. Cash donations cover Six Pillar materials, bus transportation, shirts, lunches, the graduation ceremony, and special requests.
To help the students & teachers: Pottorf Elementary Teachers Amazon Wish List
To donate to Boys2Men efforts or to volunteer: Lou Bottitta — [email protected] · 484-788-2160
To learn more about Boys2Men and the Six Pillars Integrity Program, visit: http://www.PottorfBoys2Men.org
