National Volunteer Week 2026

Leslie B. - PRISM Mentor

Leslie has been a dedicated mentor with the agency since 2024 and has been actively matched with her mentee for over two years. During this time, she has made a meaningful and lasting impact by supporting her mentee in reaching their full potential.

Leslie consistently serves as both an advocate and a cheerleader, encouraging her mentee to explore future possibilities and believe in their abilities. She has played a key role in supporting post-secondary planning, assisting with college applications, attending open houses, and exploring financial aid opportunities. Thanks in part to her guidance and encouragement; her mentee was accepted into five post-secondary institutions.

Beyond academics, Leslie has been a strong and steady support in helping her mentee build confidence and engage more actively in the community. Her mentee has shared positive feedback during check-ins, expressing how much they value their time together and recognizing their own personal growth and excitement about the future.

Over the past two years, Leslie has been an incredible mentor and continues to make a profound difference in her mentee’s life.

~ Maddie, Mentoring Coordinator

Mélise B. - Big Sister

Mélise began her journey with the agency in 2022, where she was matched for three years, until her mentee eventually moved out of the country. Following the closure of her first match, she continued to give back by supporting a SOAR Group Program. During that time, she built a strong and promising connection with a new mentee. After the program concluded, Mélise chose to rematch in the Community-Based 1:1 program with a youth she had met through the group, and we are so glad she did.
From the very beginning, Mélise has been a dedicated, caring, and intentional mentor. She focuses her time on supporting her mentee in growing their existing interests while also encouraging them to explore new experiences. She is thoughtful in her planning, putting care and effort into every detail of both her activities and communication. By taking the time to truly understand her mentee’s interests, Mélise creates meaningful opportunities for growth, discovery, and confidence building.
Mélise brings a balance of fun and learning to her mentoring, always showing enthusiasm and a genuine desire to be involved. She is also an incredible support to the agency, where she consistently shares stories and photos, and willingly participates in agency and community initiatives. We are grateful for the belief she has in the impact of mentoring and the strong relationships she continues to build. Thank you, Mélise, for being such a consistent, supportive, and caring presence within the agency.

~Erin, Community-Based Mentoring Coordinator

Abbey – SOAR Group Mentor

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Dawna T. - In-School Mentor

Dawna’s dedication shines through, in the consistency and deeply youth-centered approach she has brought to her match year after year.
Through creative and thoughtful activities like needle felting, clay making, painting, baking, using board games as a tool for learning things such as math and more, she has turned each visit into a meaningful opportunity where learning and play come together. Her ongoing support has helped foster a noticeable growth in her mentee’s self-confidence and decision-making within the match.
Dawna’s commitment to creating engaging, skill-building experiences is truly worth celebrating, as it continues to have a lasting and positive impact on her mentee’s growth and development.

~Maddie, Mentoring Coordinator

Nicole - In-School Mentor

Alex - Big Brother

Alex joined the agency in 2024 and has now reached the two-year mark in his match, a milestone that reflects his strong commitment and consistency as a mentor. Over the past year, Alex has truly thrived in his role, showing up as a reliable and supportive presence in his mentee’s life while helping to create meaningful opportunities that encourage growth and confidence.
He has introduced his mentee to a variety of new skills and experiences, including skating, soap felting, and furniture refurbishing. Together, they’ve even created a flower box as a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift, an example of how Alex blends creativity, learning, and care into their time together. His approach balances fun and engagement with opportunities for skill building, all while offering steady emotional support and guidance.
Alex has been there not only for enjoyable moments, but also during more challenging times, consistently showing empathy, patience, and understanding. He brings genuine enthusiasm to mentoring, viewing each interaction as a chance to support his mentee while also growing personally.
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication Alex has shown in helping to ignite his mentee’s potential, and we look forward to seeing their relationship continue to grow.
~Erin, Community-Base Mentoring Coordinator