Mentor Appreciation Night

Please Join Us For Our Program at 7pm tonight!

Note: the live feed will pop up on Facebook link above at 7pm

Be sure to check out the Mentor Appreciation Night program booklet HERE

and download the Mentor Appreciation Night Cookbook

What your gift does for young people with disabilities

$25 Provides mentors with resources to connect and engage with mentees virtually

$50 Supports one webinar to mentors and mentees such as "Youth Self-Advocacy and Self-Disclosure"

$100 Supports two guest lectures for Career Readiness participants

$250 Provides two volunteer mentor training sessions

$500 Sponsors a keynote career mentor for a PYD event such as Youth Leadership Forum

$1000 Supports a mentor-mentee relationship between a volunteer and youth for an entire year

The U.S. Department of Labor has recognized mentoring as one of the most important strategies for assisting youth in making a positive transition to adulthood. According to MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, "?[for] every dollar invested in effective mentoring programs, there is a return of $2.72, including projected increases in lifetime earnings gained by leading a young person down the path to become productive adult citizens, as well as dollars saved through improved school attendance, higher high school graduation rates, and lowered risk behaviors."

Please join PYD as we celebrate the dedication and care of our mentors!

Mentors are role models, leaders and friends.  They guide young people with disabilities toward a more independent life by increasing confidence and social skills.  Mentors see the full potential for personal development in their mentees and encourage them to be the best they can be.

PYD will honor these volunteers who change the lives of youth with disabilities.  Awards and certificates will be presented and a Mentor of the Year will be named. Mentees will celebrate their mentors. (Read about Lisa, this year's Mentor of the Year)

 We'll also celebrate the success of PYD participants with awards for:

·         Greg Dees & Anita McGahan Career Readiness Award

·         Rayleen Lescay Spirit Award

·         Chris Dunne Award for peer leadership

·         LENS Award (Linking Expertise and Networking for Success, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind program)

"My mentor has been there for me through all the trouble times with me: from hospital stays to all those times that my dad and I have never agreed. But the one thing I have to say is that he has been one of the key people in my life." ~A.J., mentee

Submit recipes for the Mentor Appreciation Night cookbook (sent out prior to the event to all registered attendees) HERE

Submit songs for the Mentor Appreciation Night playlist for the afterparty (directly following the event) HERE

Join our After Party directly following the program, from 8:00-8:30 pm.  You'll have the opportunity to interact with other attendees and PYD staff in one of four PYD Rooms: games, music, conversation and PYD Information/Q & A.  Sign up HERE

Thank you to our funder Cummings Foundation