Literacy and Mentoring

I was thrilled to read, this morning, about First Niagara's $500,000 investment to make sure mentors are prevalent in our public schools.

Studies show that drug use, violent behavior, and school absenteeism are higher when kids don't have a mentor. Mentors are a big deal - both in school, and out of school.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has done a lot of research to show this. We fund their mentoring program - they do such incredible work.

You may not know this, but United Way's single largest investment into helping kids goes to before, afterschool, and summer programs that offer mentors, among other things. (Technically, they're called "youth development" programs - but that term is a little too nebulous in the real world. So, I stick with afterschool programs.)

We support them at the Community Place of Greater Rochester, the Urban League, the Boys and Girls Club, and many other places.

Through these programs, each year more than 24,000 kids get the mentors, tutors, and support they need to stay in school. And - literacy is on the agenda.

At the Boys and Girls Club, they have what's called the Acclerated Reader program. Close to 300 kids are in this program - and over the past two years, they read and passed quizzes on more than 10,000 books. For real - 10,000 books - that's amazing.

Seven out of every ten of the kids increased their reading levels by at least one grade level. Many - close to two grade levels.

It's something to think about. Congrats to First Niagara - what a great move.