Making a Difference Is Inconveniently Easy: Call for MEntors

Written By Ruby Dichirico

RISE Scholars in Novato is looking for adults who can give one hour a week during the school year. Become a mentor and visit RISE Scholars.

“Making a Difference Is Inconveniently Easy.”

There are nearly 50 kids at Hamilton K-8 School in Novato waiting for a mentor, and there would be more on that list if there were enough mentors to go around.

RISE Scholars is looking for adults who can give one hour a week during the school year. They get to know you first: what you like, your interests, how you might want to spend that hour. Then they match you with a student they think you’ll really click with. You commit to one hour a week together, on campus, during the school year.

The time on campus is fun and flexible…play board games, run around on the playground, do arts & crafts or just sit and chat. It’s whatever you guys decide to do and doesn’t need to be anything in particular. The most important piece is that you keep showing up. That’s where the good stuff happens.

And that’s really what makes this program special. Kids have parents and teachers in their lives, but there’s something different about having another adult who chooses to spend time with you, wants to know what you’re interested in and looks forward to seeing you every week. You don’t have to harass them about their homework, tell them to clean their room or remind them about the test on Friday. You just get to be with them. It’s a pretty simple thing that can end up meaning a lot.

And before you start...yes, it’s in Novato. It’s 20 minutes away. You’ll be fine. And yes, it’s a commitment. That’s sort of the point.

Some of these relationships last for years, through middle school, high school and even college. Pretty remarkable when you consider they started with one hour a week.

So...what can you do?

  • Become a mentor. Interested? Curious? Contact Kim Hospodar at RISE Scholars at kim@riseforthekids.org or visit RISE Scholars.

  • Share this with someone who might be interest: retired friend, empty nester, someone with a flexible schedule, or that person who keeps saying they’d like to do something more meaningful with their time.

  • Spread the word. Send it to your group text, WhatsApp chat, pickleball and sailing crew, family...you know your people better than we do. The more people who hear about this, the better the chance it lands in front of someone who thinks...”I could do that”. Thank you in advance!

  • Come to Bingo. The final Bingo at Mog Asu is this Sunday from 4 to 6 PM, with proceeds benefiting RISE Scholars. Come have a glass of wine, play some Bingo and meet the people behind RISE.

And maybe getting out of the bubble for an hour a week is exactly the kind of thing you didn’t know you were looking for.

Ruby Dichirico