Stories

Mentoring knows no bounds

Volunteer mentor Jessica Butterfield and her mentee Devon

When Jessica Butterfield called the Mentor Connector in Rutland County and told Sandy Cohen, Executive Director, that she wanted to volunteer, Sandy knew that Jessica had the potential to make a big impact on some fortunate young person's life. Jessica was very enthusiastic about young people, is blind, and uses a wheelchair. Sandy made calls to local schools in order to match Jessica with the perfect young person, and learned that Devon, a student at the Northeast School, was interested in having a mentor. Devon also uses a wheelchair. Sandy was committed to working through the logistical barriers for this new mentoring pair and the Northeast School, which Devon attends, secured Braille books for Jessica to read to Devon. The Bus, the Rutland City transportation agency, generously agreed to provide transportation for Jessica to the school every week at no charge. Now Jessica and Devon meet every week to read and talk . . . hopefully a tradition that will continue for years to come.

The Permanent Fund for the Well-Being of Vermont Children recognized both the need and the potential for mentoring in Rutland County in 2003. After many dialogues with local leaders and human services programs, the Mentor Connector was born with the goal of increasing the quality and quantity of mentoring matches in Rutland County by conducting awareness, recruitment, training and networking activities for local programs. The Mentor Connector was initially supported through a collaboration between the Permanent Fund, with a $75,000 three-year pledge, and the New Castle Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation. Just a few years later, the Mentor Connector has recruited over 100 new mentors who have been matched with children and youth though local mentoring programs — including Jessica and Devon.

Friends Forever

Connor and Scott have been matched since November of 2006. So far their relationship has blossomed into a beautiful, fun filled friendship. Scott an engineer loves to fish, rock climb and read while Connor enjoys playing “Hungry Hungry Hippo”, board games and drawing. Scott picks up Connor once a week from his after school program. Their interactions have encouraged other kids to also want mentors. During this time the kids are drawn to Scott and often want to join in on the fun he and Connor have together. Many ask, “is that your dad?” Others yell, “No, that’s his mentor!” The next statement that usually follows is, “I want a mentor!” It’s evident that mentors have a tremendous effect not only on their mentees but they also influence their friends. I would describe Scott as one of our model mentors. He is consistent with his visits with Connor and is building a strong relationship with him. Connor’s mom wrote in his application that Connor needed a positive male role model and Scott has stepped up in doing that.

Connor and Scott are matched through King Street Youth Center's Junior Senior Buddy Program. Recently, in response to significant challenges common to most mentoring programs, King Street proposed two new variations to their time-tested community-based mentoring program: an after-school initiative designed to recruit sorely needed male mentors for the many boys on their waiting list, and a combination of mentoring and tutoring based on a successful model from Atlanta that has inspired struggling students. The Permanent Fund was honored to make a three-year pledge to support these two pilot projects, and hopes to replicate them elsewhere in the state as well.