Beauty, Gratitude, and Inspiration – Mentor Appreciation Night with a View

photo courtesy of John Marcotte

It was the perfect place to be. The weather was spectacular! The north porch of the Inn at Shelburne Farms, with its beautiful lawn sweeping toward Lake Champlain, was the perfect spot to celebrate mentoring in our community. Shelburne Farms, a long-time supporter of mentoring, graciously provided the perfect space for Mobius to say “Thank you!” to mentors and supporters of mentoring. It was a great opportunity for mentors to connect with each other, to share stories, and to salute the good work of the entire mentoring community.

Spectrum E.D. Mark Redmond, and Program Coodinator Dee Johnson chat with Spectrum mentors.

Dee Johnson, Program Coordinator at Spectrum Youth and Family Services, said as she stood on the porch she was struck by the incredible beauty of the venue, and she was even more impressed by the power of the positive energy from the mentors, staff, and supporters there. “Knowing that this group of vibrant people were examples of the hundreds of mentors who have chosen to bring that positive energy and caring to kids who so need it in their lives, really moved and inspired me!”

Mentors from Dream, Everybody Wins! VT, the HowardCenter’s Community Friends Mentoring, Boys and Girls Club, the King Street Center, Spectrum, Sara Holbrook Community Center, United Way of Chittenden County mentoring programs, and Connecting Youth enjoyed coming together and chatting about mentoring adventures.

In her welcome, Mobius Executive Director Andrea Torello gave recognition to staff from the mentoring programs, as well as community partners and Mobius Board Members.

Mobius Board President, Bill West

Board President Bill West offered gratitude for the commitment mentors make, and the difference mentoring is making in the lives of children in the community. Sheila Fazackerly, a Community Friends mentor, was inspired by his remarks, “he encouraged and somewhat challenged us to each enlist another volunteer in the ranks of mentors so that we may introduce more children to a caring, learning, and sharing environment. To share life’s joys with a child is a gift, and I am very thankful to have been given the opportunity.”

Mentor Appreciation Night is an annual event. It is one of the many ways Mobius works with partner mentoring programs, in the quest to create a culture of mentoring.