The 2012 Mentor Awards

Working at Mid Valley Mentors presents me with new challenges each and every day.  I never know what will land on my desk or at my feet.

Most of the time my days consist of data entry, little tasks for others, some financials, and making coffee.

And that is okay.  

After working for several non-profits I have learned that it is the little things that make an organization successful. And it is the little things that can mean a lot.

That is why I treasure hearing the stories of how a small gesture can make a significant difference.

Here are a few stories I wanted to share regarding yesterday's award recipients at the 2012 Mentor Awards. You can also read what the Statesman Journal had to say about it.

Hi Alma,

I thought I would share with you what has happened in the past 3 weeks (it's all good!).  As you and I have seen Joseph always wears his baseball cap wherever he goes.  He always tells me it's because it helps keep his long hair out of his eyes.  About 3 weeks ago I took him to Supercuts to get his hair "trimmed" because he wanted to look good for the Mentor Awards luncheon.  It was a 2 hour wait so I asked my wife if she would trim it for him.  3 weeks ago on a Saturday I took him to my house and we discovered that the reason he always wore his ball cap is that his hair was matted into a large ball not only on the back of his head but all the way to the top of his head.  She began working on getting the tangles out which were all the way to his scalp.  She spent 3 hours that day and gave him some shampoo and conditioner and asked him to soak his hair every night.  The following Saturday she spent another 3 hours with him working on his hair.  Well, yesterday after 2 hours all the matting and knots finally came out of his hair.  I took him to Supercuts to get it trimmed and the cut it above shoulder length.  The motivation for him to part with his hair (I don't think he had a haircut for at least 3 years) was the upcoming Mentor Awards luncheon.  He has never been formally recognized for anything during his short 16 year lifetime.  The Mentor Association has given him the drive to succeed in life and now he has a chance at accomplishing that feat.  I just wanted to take a private moment to thank you and your staff for everything that you do and most importantly for caring about the youth involved in the program.  Sure I can help guide him to the best of my abilities but the real credit goes to you and your staff.

Both Joseph and I look forward to tomorrow with great anticipation that it will give him the needed self esteem to make something of his life.  It's really not fair to have a kid endure a family life like his but he's going to make it and will always remember the Mid Valley Mentors as the catalyst for success.

Rich

p.s.  My wife and I also discovered that he has never used a comb on his hair and that he has been combing his hair with his fingers all these years!  He now has a supply of shampoo, conditioner and combs.

Here are the award presentations I wrote for the Mentor Awards Ceremony.

(This next award is for Exceptional Commitment and is to honor a mentor, mentee or volunteer for outstanding commitment demonstrate through involvement or longevity.)

When we talk about commitment we often think about an obligation or a binding agreement. And while a commitment can be both an obligation and an agreement, a commitment is also a promise, a pledge, something that is entrusted to someone. The Mid Valley Mentors Award for Exceptional Commitment is named after and given to a mentor-mentee match that exemplifies all that the word commitment encompasses.  This match began in April of 2009, and they are approaching their 3rd anniversary.

The mentee was referred to Mid Valley Mentors by the Marion County Juvenile Department at a time when his only family support was a grandmother. This young man has been blessed with an amazing grandmother who stepped in to raise him beginning at the age of 8 months. She is the only parent he has known, and is now in her 80’s.  Recognizing that her son needed a friend, and a mentor who could engage him in activities other than video games, she sought support. She knew he would needed someone to help him transition from being a boy, to being a young man. This mentee waited a long 6 months to be matched. In April of 2009 he was matched with his mentor, the two are now approaching their 3rd anniversary. On the surface or from an outsider’s perspective this match might appear to be a mis-match; it is anything but.  This is not a match that just does the bare minimum, meeting for one hour a week. This match goes the extra mile, and they have taken their relationship to an exceptional level.

The Mentor is a father, and a grandfather.  He is a veteran, and he is retired.  Most young mentees would say he is old-school.  But this mentor was exactly what this mentee needed; someone who has been a father, a grandfather, and knows the importance of keeping his word.  But mostly he needed a male role model that would make a strong commitment to being a part of his life. This mentor has met those needs by committing to a young man to walk alongside him, listening, guiding, getting him to and/or from school, raising the bar for expectations, and often times challenging him to rise to the occasion.  This is a mentor that leads by example and is leading his mentee to become the man he knows he can be. This involves trust, time, guidance and listening.  It involves commitment.  A teenage boy now knows that he matters, because of one man’s strong commitment, consistent positive actions, and genuine words of affirmation.  And this mentee has embraced his mentor and is equally committed to the match relationship. Prior to mentoring the mentee was on a path to juvenile probation and wouldn’t have been able to tell you what classes he was taking in school. Today with his hard work and his mentor’s support, he was able to avoid juvenile probation by successfully completing the Family Support Program.  Now, he can not only tell you the classes he is taking, but he has also improved his GPA. The two of them have pledged to work together and walk together until high school graduation is achieved.

 This award for Exceptional Committment has been named after this year’s award winners to honor their exceptional commitment and inspiration to others. We are proud to present Mentee Joseph Brandon and Mentor Rich Kelber with the “Brandon-Kelber Award” for exceptional commitment in pledging to be there for each other these past 32 months and the coming months and years ahead.

 Match of the year: Represents an adult or youth match that have gone above and beyond to spend extra time together, take on unique projects, participate in community activities or separates themselves from others in another capacity.

Our next award, Match of the Year, focuses on a mentor and mentee that have gone above and beyond to make a significant difference in one another’s lives. While we believe most every mentor match makes a significant difference, this match stands out.  Our mentor is a young man in his early 30’s, a full time student, a husband, and a new father. In spite of a very busy schedule this mentor spends on average 16 hours a month with his mentee. The mentee is a young boy, living with his mom, sometimes shy, often quiet. The mentor has been patient and consistent, and has nurtured the relationship enabling the mentee to grow in confidence.  Because of this match a young boy now participates in scouts, soccer, and other extra-curricular activities. Being more involved in activities brings out a more confident spirit in the mentee. Having this mentor in his life has helped him to recognize that he is valued and important.  A young mentee has found his voice, a voice that wasn’t there before.

This match has passed their 12 month anniversary and the bond they have formed is strong.   This bond doesn’t begin and end with just the mentor and mentee; it has developed into a bond of 2 families. During those times when the mentor’s busy schedule conflicts with the mentee’s activities, his young wife steps up and steps in driving to and from activities. The two families have come together for celebrations and are learning to overcome language differences. In addition to the mentoring relationship, this mentor is also an advocate and active recruiter for mentoring. By sharing his enthusiasm with others, he has recruited numerous other mentors to Mid Valley Mentors, of which 3 are currently matched with mentees. It is rare to find such charisma, enthusiasm, and wisdom in someone as young as this mentor, but his desire to help guide young boys into responsible, gentle men is to be commended.

 Mid Valley Mentors’ is proud to present the Award for Match of the Year to Mentor John McCarthy and Mentee Alan Becerril.

This next award is the Extraordinary Determination Award which recognizes an adult or youth mentee for extraordinary determination, resilience and dedication to making significant life changes or has pushed through seemingly insurmountable odds to stay on the right path.

·       In working with families impacted by incarceration we see many inspiring stories of strength and perseverance through difficult times. As staff poured over the various stories of children and parents beating the odds, they agreed that one individual stood out from the rest.

·        As you can imagine the hill to successful integration after incarceration is a steep one.  There are many roadblocks and challenges that make success difficult. After serving 26 years in the prison system, this individual returned to our community with a resolve to be successful, stay clean, and become self-sufficient.  He came out of the gates with a plan to start his own business as a court interpreter. With the help of his mentor he began creating and working a business plan which was halted because of parole constraints. Taking the hit in stride, he pressed forward and obtained employment in another field. With under developed computers skills, 

due to years of incarceration, the job ended after just three short days.  When many others would have given up, he did not lose hope. Giving it yet another shot, this individual pressed forward with undying commitment. 

He then landed himself yet another job, this time a job 

that would last.

·       His mentor has watched this individual exemplify what 

he considers to be the four key characteristics’ that most employers look for, “Show up on time, Do what you say you will do, Finish what you start, and say please and thank you.”  There is a lot to re-learn in order to make 

a successful transition, especially after 26 years inside the prison system and this individual has never stopped striving to learn.  His mentor says, “The community is 

far better off having his talent, energy, vision, and values productively engaged for the betterment of us all.  

 His wisdom and soft spoken conviction are lessons we all need to draw strength from.”  In 6 months this individual will have successfully completed all mandatory parole requirements and we commend him for his determination in climbing that steep hill of re-entry into open society.

Mid Valley Mentors would like to recognize Antonio Palacios for his Extraordinary  Determination (Thank you to Bob Renggli for being the one who walks along side Antonio as mentor and friend.)

·       The recipient of the Outstanding Supporter Award is an individual who in our eyes definitely stands out from others.  Mid Valley Mentors crossed paths with this individual in 2010 through outreach to children of prisoners through local institutions. He began as an advocate on our behalf, working to build trust among inmates to help open the door to serving their children. This individual’s passion and commitment for serving children of prisoners grew to extend beyond being an advocate, to one of being an Outstanding Supporter.  He is living out that familiar phrase, ‘Put your money where 

your mouth is.’ In the spring of 2011, when he learned that 

the federal government had cut the funding for Mentoring Children of Prisoners, he began sending a monthly $10 donation. Within 6 months he added half that amount 

again, increasing his donation to $15.

·       Some of you might be scratching your heads, wondering why such a small amount would warrant special 

recognition. What makes this recipient’s support so extraordinary is not the amount of money but the level of giving relative to his means.  Each month he gives 20% of what he earns.  20 percent is a level of giving that comes from one’s substance, not just their surplus.  Giving from your substance is a type of contribution that changes the giver. Donating 20% of one’s monthly income requires a person to make different choices each and every day.  Doing so, to support and benefit others, is a choice that stands out. His commitment doesn’t stop there, this same individual hen the annual event approached, he rallied together three other inmates and sent $100 with a note that read “We can’t be there in body, but we are there in spirit. Use the funds to cover the registration for some kids.”

·       Mid Valley Mentors is honored to recognize Pepe Rivas with the Outstanding Supporter Award. Pepe Rivas is an inmate at Oregon State Correctional Institution. We could tell you about the negatives issues, and choices that landed Pepe in prison as a young 17 year old boy, but we would rather tell you about the positive choices he is making today as a 42 year old man.  In addition to supporting Mid Valley Mentors, Pepe is the founder of Family First, a program that advocates for families and helps incarcerated fathers strengthen their relationships with their children.  He has learned from his own experience that every choice, every moment counts saying, “It’s not a complicated formula, it’s just time, 

and some people don’t want to give that up.” Pepe has a desire to give of his time, and he has found a way to 

work within the confines of his situation to give in every other way possible.  While he can’t be present with us today, we know that he is present in spirit.  

I 

I didn't write the award presentation for US Bank, but We are very appreciative of all their support.