Join the Coaches' Challenge!

The national mentoring partnership has identified 15 million children in our nation that are in need of caring and quality mentors.  In an effort to help close this “mentoring gap,” former Coaches Bill Snyder and Tom Osborne have issued a friendly challenge to each other’s state to see which state can sign up the most new mentors this summer and fall. 
Learn more. 

Join the Challenge, register to Mentor today.

State Employee Mentoring Program

Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed an executive order Monday, August 18, allowing State of Kansas employees to positively impact children’s lives through the Kansas Mentors program. Executive Order 08-10 will allow full-time employees in the Executive Branch of the State of Kansas to spend up to 90 minutes of regularly scheduled work time per two-week pay period mentoring with any program which is part of Kansas Mentors’ Gold Star program. To find out if you are eligible to receive time to mentor please check with your supervisor. Read the full press release here.

Want to learn more?  Check out our brochure (pdf) or frequently asked questions page.

An important message
from Governor Sebelius & K-State Coaching legend Bill Snyder

Fellow Kansans:

Welcome to the Kansas Mentors web site! We hope you will find these resources helpful and informative. Though our backgrounds may differ, we both consider ourselves fortunate to have been blessed with adults in our lives who built upon the values instilled in us by our parents.

We believe every Kansas child deserves someone he/she can look up to and that all Kansas parents deserve help pushing back the threats from popular culture so they can instill in their children the values that lead to a good life. Moms and dads shouldn't be alone in the fight to raise children the right way. The Kansas Mentors web site is a place where interested adults across the state can find programs in their area where they can volunteer their time as a mentor or find a program to fit their child or student’s needs.

Though Kansas Mentors will not be creating a new state-wide mentoring program, we will help communities without mentoring opportunities find the resources and tools they need to start their own programs. By working with local school systems, communities, businesses and various service organizations across the state, Kansas Mentors will help to bring supportive and caring adults who share our values into the lives of all our children

Here in our state, the Kansas Mentors initiative will help make the vision of a mentor for every Kansas child a reality. Mentoring can change lives. Statistics show that a young person who meets with a mentor is:

• 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs *
• 27% less likely to begin drinking alcohol *
• 52% less likely to skip school *
• 33% less likely to engage in a fight *

Through support, guidance and learning from a mentor, a young person's self-esteem is strengthened and they're able to better overcome life's hurdles and realize their goals.

We invest in our children's schools and get involved in their lives because we care about our children and want them to reach their God-given potential. Please join us in creating a brighter future for all Kansas children by participating in Kansas Mentors.

Thank you for helping make life better for the youth of Kansas.

* These statistics are from a 1995 study which focused on Big Brothers Big Sisters community-based mentoring.  These results may vary among mentoring programs depending upon their structure.

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