NEWS RELEASE
Aug. 28, 2006

Bank of America and the Washington State Mentoring Partnership award local grants

ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Eighteen organizations across Washington will receive grants totaling $100,000 from the Bank of America Mentoring Initiative and the Washington State Mentoring Partnership (WSMP), Lt. Gov. Brad Owen announced today.

The grants, funded by the Bank of America and administered by the WSMP, are an effort to support quality mentoring organizations that are serving youth from moderate to low income families, said Owen, who is co-chair of the Issaquah-based non-profit organization.   

The grants range from $4,000 to $7,500 each.  

“Mentoring is a potent agent for positive change in society,” Owen said. “Research has shown that a structured and trusting relationship between a young person and a caring adult is related to reductions in youth pregnancy, violence and substance abuse.  At the same time, mentoring is associated with improved academic performance.”   

Jim Marsh, chief operating officer of the WSMP adds: “As the leading advocate for mentoring in the state, we are very proud of the work these grant winners are doing with Washington State's youth and of the community spirit Bank of America has shown by this commitment.  We are all the beneficiaries of this truly public-private initiative."

The Washington State Mentoring Partnership is an umbrella organization for the state's mentoring community, providing assistance with training, recruitment, resource development, data collection, public awareness and public policy.  The partnership is supported by Costco Wholesale, the state Department of Social and Health Services and several other individuals and organizations. 

Grant Recipients Include:

 The 4C Coalition, Seattle $5250
The 4-H Designers Club, Pasco $5650
Big Brothers Big Sisters King, Pierce & Jefferson Counties, Seattle $5250
Big Brothers Big Sisters Northwest Washington, Mt.Vernon $5500
Big Brothers Big Sisters Northwest Washington, Bellingham $7500
Club Mentor – Boys & Girls Club, Pasco $5650
Communities in Schools of Renton, Renton $5250
Community Leadership Investment & Mentor Building (CLIMB), Bellingham $7500
Enterprise for Progress in the Community (EPIC), Kennewick $5650
Harbor After-School Program, Aberdeen $4000
Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration Region 6, Kelso $5000
Kitsap Alternative School, Port Orchard $7000
Leave No Child Waiting, Chelan $5500
Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents, Yakima $5000
Pacific & Grays Harbor 4-H, South Bend $4000
Refugee Mentoring Program, Seattle $5250
Youth Dynamics, Burlington $5500
YWCA of Wenatchee Valley, Wenatchee $5500

 The community grants will be dispersed this month.  For more information go to www.washingtonmentoring.org, or contact Peggy Gray at (425) 416-2033 or pgray@washingtonmentoring.org

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