  From Homecoming parades to connecting in the classroom...   From childrens' art exhibits...to professionals and high school seniors e-Mentoring Would you like to DISCOVER, INSPIRE, MENTOR? Think about being a YouthFriend in the Basehor-Linwood School District, contact: Tammy Potts YouthFriends Coordinator 2108 N. 155th St. Basehor, KS 66007 (913) 724-1727, Ext. 111 YouthFriends Corps Care Cat application only What is a YouthFriend? We are a friend to youth... volunteers making a difference, one child at a time, in USD 458. We welcome the community to volunteer in our classrooms through this unique mentoring and tutoring program. We welcome you, the community, into our classrooms! In the ten years since the Basehor-Linwood School District implemented its YouthFriends volunteer program, over 900 YouthFriends have served as mentors in classrooms throughout the district's six schools. More than 40,000 hours have been dedicated to over 5,000 students during that time. How does this happen? Through caring individuals just like yourself. In this unique mentoring program, you can serve as a YouthFriend in different ways. We offer one on one, small groups, classroom, and e-Mentoring opportunities from K through grade 12. District Coordinator Tammy Potts partnered initially with another volunteer, Mary Leonard, to unify district volunteers within YouthFriends and YouthFriends Corps "Care Cats". Their hard work was recognized nationally within Eckerd's Top 100. The YouthFriends umbrella annually now reaches over 900 students who have matching adult or high school mentors. In May, YouthFriends are honored with the President's Volunteer Service Awards for outstanding service. The district's Crystal Award was first bestowed upon Basehor's Gold Pride for school performances and classroom plays on good character role modeling. YouthFriends-Kansas and Basehor Linwood USD 458 are past recipients of the Kansas Education Community Partner Award. Since 2001, students begin each school year with a "Welcome Back YouthFriends" district poster contest. This recruiting tool helps children understand what the program is about, and also, is a creative outlet for some amazing artists. Our winners are recognized at the local, state and national level. The highlight of the year is the art exhibit tour at the state capitol in Topeka, and throughout the state of Kansas. YouthFriend Volunteer Application Standards of Conduct for Volunteers YouthFriends Kansas Website Care Cat Scholarship Salute! The YouthFriends Corps "Care Cats" program is a half credit class available each semester to eligible high school juniors and seniors. Over 90 students annually are matched as mentors with an elementary, middle or freshmen classroom. The volunteer hours meet college service requirements. Two or more scholarships are awarded each year, sponsored by 10 YouthFriend employer partners. If you see a BLHS junior or senior mentoring one on one or in small groups in classrooms throughout USD 458 -- you're watching a Care Cat at work! These unique mentors (and tutors) study, talk, laugh and listen to children they are matched with grades K through 12. The YouthFriends Corps Care Cat Scholarship is sponsored by at 10 area businesses. They contribute at least $100.00 each to the YouthFriends program, and pledge support as YouthFriends USD 458 Employer Partners. A special thank you to all of you who make YouthFriends USD 458 a success This includes our YouthFriend Employer Partners who support the two annual YouthFriends Corps Care Cat Scholarships: Breuer, Inc., Citizens Savings & Loan, FSB of Basehor, De Soto Veterinary Clinic, Elite Electric, Heartland Dental of Basehor, Jeremy McDowell of Kansas United States Sports Association (KS USSSA), Miller's Sign Shoppe, Stepping Stones Daycare, Ltd., and Dayna Miller of S & S Alloy Steel, Inc.. A YouthFriend salute to the incredible support of the Basehor-Linwood High School Boosters, PowerPlay of Shawnee Mission, Wolf Creek Marketplace of Basehor, Queen's Price Chopper of Bonner Springs, Simple Simons Pizza of Basehor, and YouthFriends-Kansas (Greenbush). YouthFriends in the news: Care Cat takes mentoring to new level Article and photographs by Lara Hastings, Basehor Sentinel Staff Volunteer program earns state acclaim Article by Joshua Roberts and picture by Kevin Anderson, Basehor Sentinel Staff. Friends You Can Use by Heather Myer
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