REM Award Honorees (2017) — Reach & Rise Mentors (Alfond Youth Center)
The Alfond Youth Center is proud to honor Reach & Rise mentors as this year’s REM honorees! Undivided attention for a local youth, for 1-3 hours per week for an entire year — this is the inestimable gift and commitment from our amazing Reach & Rise mentors.
Many of our community’s youth (ages 6-17) are seeking a friend and confidant to help them navigate through the challenges of growing up. Most important, they just want that under-valued and magical experience of just being there for them. They play, talk, try new food, fill out job applications, play catch, board games, create crafts, volunteer together, introduce each other to music and perspectives, hike, fish…there’s so much to experience together in central Maine!
All mentors have their own personal reasons for wanting to join Reach & Rise, ranging from wanting to be like the adult who positively affected the trajectory, to being the adult that they wish they had and needed while growing up.
Choosing a single recipient for this honor is impossible. Each of the following community members volunteered their time and heart to a child and for this the kids, and we, are forever grateful. Thank you for being the change: Lorena Perez, Bill Atchison, Mike DiBiasio, Cheryl Gorman, Marissa Greenlaw, Walter Beaudoin, Nancy Belanger, Weldon Black, Jennifer Olsen, Paige Barker, Lynne Dailey, MaryKate Friend, Cathie Gavett, Crista Lavenson, Mary Ellen Gregory, Doris Labranche, Rob Lester, Jacqueline Stevens, and Danielle Bragg.
“Be a mentor! Change two lives!”
For more information about the Alfond Youth Center, please visit its website.