Embracing Service a mentoring story from Fort Myers, FL

In 2013, MV (age 12) was matched with Ralph, a sophomore at Edison State College.
MV aged out of our After School Reading program and was recommended for our
CCUSA mentoring program.
After orientation and training, I scheduled a Getting to Know You mentor/mentee and
family night to reveal the matches. After revealing the matches, we had a 100 piece
puzzle competition. Family members were allowed to participate and help their childs
team win movie tickets. The next day, MVs mom who speaks very little English,
excitedly explained through a translator that she had never put a puzzle together and had
never had so much fun with her kids. Little did we know that was not only the beginning
of a great mentor/mentee relationship it was also the beginning of a very special bond
between two families.
In late November, AFCAAM received free Everblades Hockey tickets for games at the
Germaine Arena home of FGCU (Dunk City). At every event, among those in attendance
with other CCUSA mentors and mentees were MVs family and the Castillos. What
started as a mentoring relationship between a mentor and mentee, developed into a
wonderful relationship benefiting MVs entire family! MVs world is expanding and
though somewhat an introvert, hes becoming a more verbal and confident young man.
Today, one year later, MV is excelling as an A/B student and now includes college in his
future. He also volunteers with his mentor and both families at a local Hispanic food
pantry serving the needy and in the pantrys vegetable garden. One really exciting event
in MVs life was visiting a Catholic Church/Cathedral for the first time and receiving a
grand tour of behind the scenes happenings before Mass. Today, one year later, he serves
as an Altar Boy (see photo below).

Submitted by:
Veronica Barber - Mentoring Coordinator
For more information about mentoring in Fort Wayne and South Bend email:
veronicab@aol.com