Mentoring Works Washington

Release For: February 3, 2015 Washington State Mentors Changes Name to Mentoring Works Washington Non-Profit to Increase Profile as State’s Leading Mentoring Advocate ISSAQUAH, Wash. – This week, the state’s leading organization for supporting and . The new name and brand identity emphasize the non-profit’s growing role as the principal advocate for youth mentoring throughout Washington. This responsibility is in addition to providing targeted creative, financial and training resources to, and developing best practices and growing capacity for mentoring groups around the state, as well as helping match the thousands of children seeking mentors with the appropriate services. Mentoring Works Washington currently serves 34,000 K-12 children through 180 community-mentoring organizations. The non-profit’s 10-year effort has benefited youth, as well as Washington communities, by establishing best practices for mentoring that lead to improved academic performance and emotional well-being among young people who are mentored, and by heightening their awareness of the importance of good citizenry, as well as the harmful impact of drugs and alcohol. Mentoring Works Washington is increasing its role as the state’s primary advocate for expanding, funding and improving mentoring services. As accentuated in the new logo and brand identity, both developed by jimwalkerseattle, Mentoring Works Washington will lobby state and local governments, businesses and concerned individuals to actively assist in the effort to meet the needs of the more than 200,000 children and adolescents in Washington state who could benefit from a mentor but don’t currently have one. “For young people without role models or adults who are consistently available to provide guidance, mentoring is absolutely critical,” said Brad Owen, chair of the Mentoring Works Washington Board and Lieutenant Governor of Washington. “Mentoring Works Washington provides expertise and a big-picture viewpoint to the benefit of the many, many kids who seek mentors.” improving the quality and reach of mentoring services unveils its new name – Mentoring Works Washington  The successes of the organization are many, including;      16,000 in 2004 to 34,000 in 2014. Increasing the number of mentored youth from Developing leading-edge programs for school-age children of military families, primarily in areas adjacent to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. These mentoring programs are being developed in partnership with leading education institutions, including the University of Arkansas, Boston University and NYU. Providing a safety net for state programs impacted by budget reductions, such as the cuts to parolee programs by the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration. Mentoring Works Washington stepped in to support services for youth in the juvenile justice system. Mentoring Works Washington also filled the void during cuts to foster-care services, increasing support of organizations serving foster youth. Supporting the nation’s largest study of youth mentoring, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The results of the five-year groundbreaking study were published in the 2013 report: “The Role of Risk.” Demonstrating the organization’s critical role and vision, resulting in support from community leaders including its inception in 2004. Lt. Governor Brad Owen, the non-profit’s Chair since “This exceptional non-profit has done important work and accomplished impressive goals for the past 10 years,” said Simon Amiel, executive director, Mentoring Works Washington. “Our name change is indicative of our growing responsibility to inspire stakeholders throughout the state to become active participants in solutions that address our communities’ most pressing needs.” About Mentoring Works Washington Mentoring Works Washington is an umbrella organization for the state’s mentoring community. By providing capacity-building support in areas such as training and technical assistance, data collection and tracking, public awareness and public policy, Mentoring Works Washington helps increase the number of children served through mentoring and helps improve the quality of mentoring provided. Mentoring Works Washington is a public/private partnership between Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services and Costco Wholesale. Lt. Governor Brad Owen is founding chair of the board of directors. For more information on , please visit www.mentoringworkswa.org or call 866.316.8190. Contact: Peggy Gray at Mentoring Works Washington pgray@mentoringworkswa.org 206.276.4436 At the 2015 first annual Hoops for Hope tournament, Mentoring Works Washington’s highest-profile fundraising event held August 28 and 29 on South Seattle Community College's Georgetown Campus, a new community-service award will be given out. The inaugural Jim Marsh Award, honoring an individual exhibiting exceptional Attitude, Athleticism and Achievement, will be presented to a young person who embodies the important qualities that Jim Marsh stands for on and off the court. Works Washington Mentoring Works Mentoring Washington  About Mentoring Works Washington Mentoring Works Washington is an umbrella organization for the state’s mentoring community. By providing capacity-building support in areas such as training and technical assistance, data collection and tracking, public awareness and public policy, Mentoring Works Washington helps increase the number of children served through mentoring and helps improve the quality of mentoring provided. Mentoring Works Washington is a public/private partnership between Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services and Costco Wholesale. Lt. Governor Brad Owen is founding chair of the board of directors. For more information on , please visit www.mentoringworkswa.org or call 866.316.8190. Contact: Peggy Gray at Mentoring Works Washington pgray@mentoringworkswa.org 206.276.4436