CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – This week, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led their colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing January 2024 as “National Mentoring Month” to celebrate the positive influence mentors can have on children and young adults. The National Mentoring Month resolution underscores the mentoring gap that exists in the United States, where only one in three young people grow up with a mentor, and highlights the need for more adults to invest their time in the success of young adults.
“Having a mentor gives people, especially children and young adults, a path to reach their goals and unlock their full potential,” Senator Capito said. “I have had so many great mentors in my life that I am grateful for, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Having people who care about you, guide you, and hold you accountable will set you up for success, and I am happy to join my colleagues in highlighting the importance of mentors in communities across West Virginia and our country.”
“Mentors provide wisdom, stability, and guidance to inspire the next generation,” said Senator Whitehouse. “I am glad to join Senator Capito in bipartisan recognition of the contributions of mentors in Rhode Island and across America.”
“Recent research by MENTOR found that, at any given time, one in three young people want a mentor, but cannot find one; a data point that is even more stark among our country’s youngest generation,” Jermaine Myrie, CEO of MENTOR, said. “This ‘mentoring gap’ is a call to action for all adults – including policymakers – to cultivate a culture of volunteerism in their community by investing in our young people through mentoring programs. This National Mentoring Month, we thank Senators Whitehouse and Capito for their continued leadership in elevating the value of youth mentoring. We look forward to continuing to partner to grow our movement until every young person has the supportive relationships they deserve to help them achieve success and happiness.”
BACKGROUND:
The resolution recognizes the benefits of mentoring, including fostering life skills in young adults. According to MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, young people with a mentor are:
- 52% less likely to skip a day of school;
- 55% more likely to be enrolled in college;
- 92% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities; and
- 75% more likely to hold a leadership position in a club or sports team.
In addition to Senators Capito and Whitehouse, the 2024 National Mentoring Month resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Ala.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
