A CHRISTMAS STORY
12/30/2009
Hi CPY-BBBS,
I wanted to share this story with you about my mentee --
On Black Friday, Crystina and a friend of hers walked through their neighborhood and asked for donations of food, clothing, or money to give to homeless families in Eugene. On subsequent weekends she expanded her area and received more donations. When she told me about the project I helped her by identifying agencies that the clothes and much of the canned food could be given to, and assisted her by taking her to the Dollar Store where she purchased gloves, scarves, personal hygiene items, and some food for the six "gift packs" that she wanted to donate directly to homeless individuals on December 23rd. I also brought cookie making supplies to her house on December 22nd, and her brother helped us make and decorate a large batch of sugar cookies (many of which the family kept to enjoy).

After the month of effort we were able to take two large boxes of food and three bags of clothing along with a large quantity of toothbrushes and dental floss to the ShelterCare facility on Hwy 99. Crystina assembled six gift bags and we gave them directly to homeless individuals around Eugene. Each bag contained two articles of clothing (a warm shirt and either pants or a second shirt), gloves, a scarf, three pairs of socks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, a mug, chips, juice, trail mix, salt water taffy, home baked cookies, gingerbread muffins, napkins, and some Crystal light packets.

Crystina was able to do this with about $60 in monetary donations and a lot of kindness from her neighbors. The donation to the ShelterCare facility was especially meaningful and fulfilling as Crystina had once been a resident there.
  
The best conversation throughout the project was on the day we were giving out her gift bags. When we were approaching (in the car) the first person that she wanted to give a bag to -- a young woman who has been holding a sign stating that she lost everything in a fire who has been standing on the corner of River and Beltline or near Winco on Barger -- she asked me, "But, what if someone sees me?!" I asked her, well, what did she think would happen if someone who knew her saw her giving a gift to a homeless person, what would they say about her? "They'd say I was sucking up to the homeless person!" I laughed, "Oh yeah, Crystina, you're such a suck up. I can't believe you're sucking up to the homeless people. Geeze!"

She started giggling and we focused on the task at hand... which was more difficult than anticipated as just as we parked the car the woman picked up a bag and began to walk away from the corner. We ended up (well I ended up) having to jog down the sidewalk after her to give her the gift which she very gratefully and warmly received. On the walk back to the car, Crystina remarked to me. "See Leah, that's the difference between you and me. You just don't care if anyone sees you running down the sidewalk yelling at a homeless person."

Leah

Comments from a young woman in CPY-BBBS's HOPE Program
"The HOPE Program has affected me in many ways over the last year.  At first, I was skeptical; I believed I could do it all on my own, as I have for many years.  Though as things in my life started to decline immensely, I decided it was time.  Without this program, I would never have accomplished as much as I have in one year.  I never saw myself getting a car, moving out on my own, or having someone in my life who is there for me 100%.  There is nothing more rewarding in this world than friendship, and over the last year, I’ve found just that.  I never expected a bond so strong in such a short amount of time.  Before Lindsey, I had no adult influence in my life, or really even someone I could trust and depend on.  Lindsey in the most caring, strong and extraordinary woman I have ever met in my life, with a heart to help guide a young woman like me.  I am nothing short of blessed, not only to have been chosen for this program, but to have been matched with Lindsey.  Lindsey has been my back-bone and my shoulder to cry on in times of need.  I know that God must be watching over me to have brought me such joy.  Lindsey – you are the mother, friend and adult in my life that I never had.  I love you for that, and though this program will come to an end, our bond will last forever."
- Jaclyn, age 18

Tifani Lauzon, a past CPY Mentee, choosen to speak at the
HELPING AMERICA'S YOUTH CONFERENCE 2008!
Tifani was nominated by CPY to be a speaker at the HAY Conference because of her amazing positive spirit and constant pursuit of helping others in need. Tifani was mentored at CPY 6 years ago and has been giving back ever since! She was chosen from a pool of other young nominees by the government to speak about her personal experiences.
Click here to view the video of Tifani's speech!
Click here to see a photo of Tifani Lauzon with Laura Bush!


CPY RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD, HAY CONFERENCE 2008
Laura Bush talks up mentoring in Portland
February 28, 2008, The Oregonian
First Lady Laura Bush urged a Portland audience Thursday to get involved as mentors for children, particularly boys being raised without fathers. "Every caring adult can make a huge difference in the lives of young people," she said. "Young people want us in their lives, and they need us in their lives." Her address at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts was part of the sixth and final regional conference organized by the White House to promote her pro-mentoring program, Helping America's Youth. Bush arranged to be introduced by a local luminary: sidelined Blazers star Greg Oden. Oden, who was raised mainly by his mother after his parents divorced, told the crowd that mentoring by a childhood coach and the head of the local Boys and Girls Club helped make him who he is. The 20-year-old NBA player exhorted the crowd to keep helping "us young kids." Attended by about 150 mentors, educators and youth, the conference highlighted the work of several Oregon programs that help guide young people toward adulthood, including Friends of the Children, Committed Partners for Youth, Open Meadow alternative schools and the Blazers Boys & Girls Club . Bush also talked up the local information, e-newsletters and other support for adults who want to get involved in mentoring available at the Web site www.helpingamericasyouth.gov. Shantel Monk, a junior at De La Salle North High School in North Portland, scored a photograph of herself with Bush, Oden and Gov. Ted Kulongoski.
Monk, who was born to a low-income single mother, was selected to speak by the White House because she is poised beyond her years when she talks about the influence that her foster mother, Helen Pittman, and Big Brothers & Big Sisters mentor, Theresa Tran, have had on her. And she already has absorbed the message the conference was designed to drive home: Although only 17, Monk already has signed up to become a Big Sister to a younger girl. While visibly awed by Oden, Monk said afterward she was even more wowed by Bush, with whom she chatted back stage. "She told me she's proud of me," she said.
-- Betsy Hammond
(Click here to link to HELPING AMERICA'S YOUTH website)

WHY BE A MENTOR?
YOUR ANSWER THROUGH THEY EYES OF A CPY YOUTH
Saturday, August 18, was the best day of my life. I went white water rafting with my mentor Tracy and a few more kids with their mentors. Anyway, I had a great time. There were big, chilling rapids. Our raft captain let everybody in the raft steer. I saw a lot of nice houses and a few fishermen. We rafted a few miles down river, then stopped and had lunch. When we were done, we loaded back up and rafted for 10 more miles. We went over Martin's Rapids. Finally, we got to the boat ramp, but the bus wasn't there yet. After waiting about ten minutes, we headed back to the river house. Like I said it was the best day of my life. For those youths out there that do not already have a mentor, I strongly suggest that they sign up for Committed Partners for Youth. Sincerely, Charlie

BRIAN'S SUCCESS!
Brian matched with mentor Ray in CPY’s TRUE Friends Program 3 years ago, has just been hired by Station 7 as their night assistant!! Brian is completing his high school education at the Opportunity Center, so this job is perfect to allow him to continue with his school schedule. Furthermore, Brian was originally referred by Station 7 for a mentor in 2004 and has always considered that agency a stable resource in his life. Brian and Ray continue to stay in contact and Brian recently helped me nominate Ray for the Family and Youth Service Bureau Mentoring Children of Prisoners Outstanding Mentor award. Congratulations to Brian!!!

DUCKS BASKETBALL INSPIRES CPY YOUTH
This fall, I signed up to be a mentor for a sixth grade girl here in Eugene. We've had some good times (and done a lot of homework together), but this past Saturday was probably our most fun time together yet, all thanks to my friend Denise.

Denise and her partner Anne are huge supporters of the Women's Basketball program here at UO, season ticket holders for about 15 years... president of the booster club...they are definitely involved. When they heard that 'my youth' is a basketball fan (who is on her school team this year for the first time), they decided to give her a night to remember.

Denise had won tickets for two seats on the floor, immediately behind the Ducks' bench, so she and Anne gave me their regular season ticket seats (center court, four rows up from the floor) to share with 'my youth'. The game was intense and very closely-matched for the first half, with USC and the Ducks taking turns lighting up the scoreboard.

At halftime, Denise and Anne gave the ultimate gift: they invited ‘my youth’ and I to exchange tickets with them, giving us the opportunity to sit right behind the bench, where we could watch Coach Smith draw the plays, hear her strategizing with the girls during each time out... and where ‘my youth’ had a view obstructed only by the official who kept darting in front of my camera, giving her a chance to take a few pictures. For a sixth grade girl who has struggled mightily in school since her father passed away a year ago, the night was magic.

Denise's gift did not end with the amazing seats, though... she also managed to get us a full set of players' cards, and -- because she knows all of the players personally -- was able to walk ‘my youth’ around and help her get autographs on each and every one after the game. As we left, ‘my youth's’ eyes were shining with remembered delight. And, yes, the Ducks even won, up by 10 points when the last buzzer rang.

A PROUD MENTOR
Jason’s mother telephoned me last night to say that Jason just made the honor roll for the first time ever in his life. Mrs. Walters was so excited. I told her that I would be sure to give Jason some extra acknowledgement tonight when we get together. I feel a certain amount of pride in his accomplishment as we talk about his school and homework at every session we have together and how important good grades are in order for him to get into Oregon State University. Jason really wants to be a “Beaver” and go to OSU and I think I am getting through to him about the importance of studying hard and working towards good grades. Last week Jason wanted to cut short his time with me so he could get back home and finish his homework. I told him I was so proud of him for wanting to do that and said that that is exactly what I like to hear from him, a desire on his part to complete his homework in a timely manner.