May 27, 2014
Rochester, N.Y. – Goodwill of the Finger Lakes today announced that it is bringing the successful national youth mentoring program GoodGuides to the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes area in an effort to assist more youth in high-risk situations to make better life and career planning choices.
“Goodwill’s GoodGuides program serves youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who want to learn about careers and prepare for success by paining these youth with mentors from their community,” said Carrie Abbott, GoodGuides Program Manager, adding: “GoodGuides helps to keep these youth on the right path. The result is stronger families and better communities.”
To make the program as effective as it can be, Abbott said that GoodGuides needs both youth and mentors to participate. Any interested youth or community members willing to be a mentor is asked to contact Abbott directly at (585) 683-1381 or email goodguides@abvi-goodwill.com. Additional program information and registration materials can be found at www.goodwillfingerlakes.com/programs.
The Goodwill GoodGuides program began in 2009 with a $19.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Delinquency Prevention. Goodwill Industries International dispersed that original grant to 56 independent Goodwill agencies in 38 states around the country.
This new phase of Goodwill GoodGuides® will provide for additional training and mentor support, advocacy and teaching roles for mentors, expanded parent engagement and more structured activities at 22 Goodwill agencies around the United States.
The enhanced GoodGuides program is made possible through a $9 million three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The program seeks to improve outcomes for more than 2,640 youth in high-risk situations in communities such as those in Livingston, Steuben, and Yates counties, and will provide for additional training and mentor support, advocacy and teaching roles for mentors, expanded parent engagement and more structured activities.
“The GoodGuides program will help youth in these communities build career plans and prepare for school completion, post-secondary training and productive work,” said Abbott.
To learn more about how Goodwill helps youth, adults and their families reach their full potential, visit www.goodwillfingerlakes.com.
Media Contact: Todd Pipitone, APR – PR Manager