Since 1996, the Blue Valley School District has been placing caring adults with young people in its schools. These men and women meet with students, individually or in a small group, one hour a week. Although activities vary, volunteers might:

• Meet students for lunch and/or to play games;
• Listen to individual or small groups of children read;
• Help teachers with classroom activities and/or grading;
• Tutor students in various academic areas; or
• Assist classes with water testing and other "field" activities or work in the gardens at the Wilderness Science Center.

In Blue Valley Schools, YOU have the opportunity to influence the future. As a volunteer, YOU can reach out to the student who will be our future and offer your guidance and support.

Research shows that volunteers help kids succeed. Students with YouthFriends feel more connected to school. Their attitudes improve, and so do their relationships with others.

In Blue Valley, the YouthFriends program is so successful because it requires a commitment from teachers, administrators, parents, students and YOU.

Volunteers are needed to share their special skills and talents with students. Whether you're just out of college, a businessperson in the prime of your career, a stay-at-home parent or a retiree, there is a place for YOU in Blue Valley Schools.

The National Mentoring Partnership recognizes that although nearly 17.6 million young Americans need or want a mentor, only about 2.5 million are in formal, high-quality mentoring relationships. That means more than 15 million young people still need mentors. That unmet need constitutes the nation's mentoring gap. Won't YOU help a Blue Valley student who wants a mentor by becoming a volunteer?

Businesses and organizations, both large and small, have discovered that YouthFriends is a good way to give back to the community. According to the article, "Corporate Volunteer Programs: Benefits to Business," published by The Points of Light Foundation, volunteerism benefits employers in many ways:

• Increases employee productivity;
• Positively impacts overall productivity;
• Enhances the employer's public image and total community relations;
• Results in employees who are more enthusiastic and who view their employer more positively;
• Attracts better employees;
• Allows the employer to gain new channels of information for input regarding community priorities and potentially in decision-making;
• Provides the employer another venue to meet strategic objectives.