Thanks Again, US Open Volunteers!

Friends for Youth is happy to announce that it raised $7,300 at the US Open Tournament in San Francisco, thanks to the hard work of a LOT of volunteers!

Friends for Youth says "thank you" to each and every one of the volunteers who donated their time and energy to volunteer at the event. Because of you Friends for Youth can continue to provide the high quality mentoring services for which it is known.

Getting Our Hands Dirty at Almost Eden Garden

This past weekend Friendships got a chance to get their hands dirty as they harvested ripe produce, pruned trees and learned how to compost at the Almost Eden Garden in Palo Alto. After the positive feedback this activity received last year, Friends for Youth was very happy to offer the opportunity again.

"This is my first time gardening and I am really liking it," said Junior Friend Anna as she pruned a plant.

The Almost Eden Garden Project grows organic produce for several local organizations and provides meals and services for homeless and low-income families.

Report from the Summer Institute on Youth Mentoring

As I'm sitting in the last presentation of the 2012 Summer Institute on Youth Mentoring, I'm reflecting on the overall value that this experience has brought to our organization and to me, personally, over the last six years. Tom Keller, the founder of the SIYM at Portland State University, has created an amazing environment for researchers, practitioners, and technical assistance providers to come together and dive into the latest research, straight from the people involved. This year's theme, non-traditional mentoring, has been very interesting for many participants as they consider the basic question after each presentation: is this considered mentoring?

From thinking about mentoring (both as a noun and as a verb) in youth development, school, child welfare, and foster care settings, we have been challenged to not only digest research but the implications of this research. Do the findings from a program that employs and pays mentors applicable to a program with volunteer-only mentors? Can you apply some of the same mentoring-specific techniques and strategies from a program whose focus is academic achievement to an agency that is designed to provide social-emotional support through community-based mentoring, especially for a subset of mentees who want more motivation in school? Can any of us who use a 1:1 or 2:1 model find any benefits from the research on group mentoring? Can mentoring, noun and verb, be beneficial when it addresses only the youth mentee or does it need to respond to a young person's entire environment and society, including institutionalized racism and discrimination?


Heady topics for all of us to be thinking about as we remember what it's like to be back in school, sitting in a classroom from 8 am to about 4:30 or 5 pm, listening to expert researchers discuss their findings. Friends for Youth is grateful to continue to be a provider partner and attend every year. I have made many incredible friendships and professional contacts each year. These connections continue to inspire and motivate me to continue helping programs think through their challenges and strengths and figure out what to do to make more of a difference in the lives of young people.


Click here for more information about the Summer Institute on Youth Mentoring, including Friday's sessions which will be recorded and appear online soon. Thanks to Karen Shaver of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada for forwarding the photo here.

Mentor Tip of the Week

Go to a local marsh and see how many different birds can identify.  You could try Crissy Field Marsh in San Francisco, the City of Palo Alto Baylands, or the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont.  Have fun!

Chef Club Community Service

Friends for Youth had the opportunity to visit a special group of individuals in Redwood City last Thursday, July 12th. We took a trip over to Redwood City’s own Chef Club, a social activities club for teens and adults with differing abilities. This program is aimed at teaching skills required for planning and cooking healthy meals. Each week participants plan a meal from start to finish and enjoy the fruits of their labor! After dinner, participants engage in social activities. We got to mingle with the participants and enjoy a nice meal they had prepared. We helped serve dinner and we cleaned up after this event, but the best part was getting to know the folks there.

The Chef Club participants welcomed us with open arms and were glad to have us visit. We hope to go back and hang with this dynamic group in the fall!

This event satisfied the Community Service Requirement found on the Senior Friend Responsibilities contract. There will be another Community Service Oppurtunity coming up later this month.

Senior Friends, check your Activities Newsletter for the details!http://www.friendsforyouth.org/discoverytimes.html

Announcing the 25th Annual Peninsula Golf Challenge

We are excited to announce the 25th anniversary of the Friends for Youth Peninsula Golf Challenge!  The tournament will be held at the beautiful and prestigious Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club on Monday, October 1, 2012.  Over the years, the tournament has earned its reputation as one of the highest-quality, best run golf fundraising events on the peninsula.  We strive to provide our participants with a fun and memorable event in appreciation of their support. 

• Learn more, register online, or become a sponsor.
• Email us if you would like to donate prizes or volunteer.

Thank you for supporting Friends for Youth!

Mentor Tip of the Week

Try a few simple games in your backyard or at a local park.  Boomerangs or frisbees?  Scavenger hunts or bug races?  You could try a bean bag toss--use a box or bucket as the target and change distance and/or location to make it more difficult--or take turns hiding and finding the bean bags or some other treasure.  Have fun!