The Boys 2 Men Mentoring Program at Pottorf Elementary is looking for a few men or women from our community to help with: weekly classroom sessions and field trips (January through April) and/or fund raising and planning tasks (year-round).
After just one year, Boys 2 Men has become a valued program at Pottorf Elementary School dedicated to helping young boys through their formative years. Led by HP residents Tom Power and me, this nonprofit organization uses mentorship, community involvement, and interactive learning to instill the values of integrity in 5th-grade boys. Through role-playing, classroom discussions, one-on- one help and field trips, the program introduces young students to the Six Pillars of Integrity: Trustworthiness,
Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Being a Good Citizen.
The 5th graders participating in the program are handpicked by the school staff as those who could most benefit from this direct help. At the end of our 2024 program, the Pottorf principal, Brandy Macchia, wrote: ”You all have truly created a great program that will positively impact these young men for years to come…They truly loved the places that you took them in addition to the lessons that you taught them! I can’t wait to see how this grows – you all are making such a difference for them! Thank you for all that you do! You are appreciated!”
Boys 2 Men is based on a program started ten years ago by gentlemen from Lexington CC. For videos on that program and ours, visit our YouTube channel.
The core mission of Boys to Men Mentoring is to provide positive adult role models to boys at a critical stage in their development. By teaching responsibility and encouraging community engagement, the program aims to reduce truancy, misbehavior, and disengagement in school.
The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South has generously awarded a $3,000 grant to our Boys 2 Men Mentoring program for 2025, ensuring that this impactful initiative will continue for a second year. The grant will directly support the purchase of t-shirts, field trip expenses, lunches and the printing of educational materials and photo books for the students.
In addition to the field trips, we are planning a Career Day in February. Should you be willing to talk about your profession, let us know. For more information on any aspect of the program, please email Tom or Lou directly.
