January is National Mentoring Month

The Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) today announced it has received an $8,000 grant from The Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education in support of its Stamford Mentoring Program. For the 2018—2019 academic year, SPEF served over 1,100 students with support from 521 volunteer mentors. The Inner-City Foundation has contributed to SPEF’s mentoring program for more than 5 years. The organization achieves lasting change at the elementary, middle, and high school level through a variety of mentorship curriculums.

The Inner-City Foundation supports organizations by providing assistance (including food, clothing, shelter, counseling and education) to at-risk and needy children and adults of Fairfield County. It strives to meet these critical needs by identifying and supporting those organizations that have proven, or have the strong potential, to be most effective at serving that population efficiently and well.

“The Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education has been a strong resource to our community and has consistently supported SPEF as we pursue our mission. We are proud to count The Inner-City Foundation as a partner in delivering impactful mentoring programs to students who need additional academic and/or social support. We’re also there to help students be successful as they move from one educational milestone to the next,” said SPEF CEO Matt Quinones.

SPEF’s Stamford Mentoring Program is active in 17 schools within the Stamford Public Schools’ district. At the elementary school level, students learn civic responsibility through community service and reflection. At the middle and high school levels, students are paired with college, community, and corporate mentors to set goals, improve academic standing, become engaged in school activities and prepare for their future.

Volunteers are at the heart of everything SPEF does. January is National Mentoring Month; the national campaign is aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our students with community volunteers. This month, SPEF is committed to ensuring that young adults in need of a caring mentor are properly placed with one. To learn how you can volunteer to become mentor, visit https://spefct.org/get-involved/volunteer/ or call 203-965-7733.

About SPEF: Founded in 1996, the mission of the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is to deliver educational programs and resources that elevate student, educator, and parent success by bridging the gap between needs in the Stamford Public Schools and resources in our community. The Foundation strives to enable each and every student in the Stamford Public Schools to graduate high school prepared and inspired to be a productive member of society. For further information, visit www.spefct.org.