Tag: Burton Elementary School

Mentor, Donor, and Partner: David’s Story

Mentor, Donor, and Partner: David’s Story
By Rachel Lopez

“Richy has a soft heart, a real soft heart. I love this kid,” smiles Dave. Over the past 7 years they have developed a deep bond, “We did a little bit of academics and a lot of playing – he’s a pretty self-motivated kid. He’s probably better at math than I am,” he laughs. Dave has gone to a lot of Richard’s family events, and Dave invited him to his daughter’s wedding this summer.

On the books their mentorship ended in 2016 when Richard, transferred to City Middle School. However, they’ve remained close, “We still keep in touch. I see him 4-5 times each year.” Now an 8th grader, Richy is starting to think more about college, “I’m looking forward to helping him navigate his college aspirations. I told him him when he graduates college I’ll take him to any soccer game in the world.”

Dave has worked at Gordon Food Service (GFS) for 27 years. Over the years he has been a mentor, donor, and partner. Originally Dave, heard about the opportunity to become a mentor and jumped at it. Later on he began recruiting more GFS employees too, “It started with info sessions, but it’s a cool community here. There are lots of hearts to serve so it wasn’t hard to get mentors.”

No longer a formal mentor, he sees himself as an advocate for Affinity Mentoring, “I don’t mind getting people in touch with senior leadership. It’s a ministry I believe in and want to support. I know it takes money to run and support the staff. I want to see [Affinity] be maintained and grow.”

He had a vision to grow the partnership. He brought the idea to Cliff Charles [the former Director of Diversity and Inclusion at GFS] and asked if he could “provide the horsepower to do it.” The team along with passionate mentors, like Will Holland, ran with it.

The partnership with GFS now boasts over 60 mentors and it’s still growing, “Our [company] culture is reflective of our values. [Affinity Mentoring] ties in closely with the values of GFS – the Gordons are an amazing family, there are hearts to serve at various levels.”

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Contact us if you’re interested in becoming a mentor or starting a partnership with your organization.

 

Jovany and Larry’s Story

A Mentor Story: Larry and Jovany
By Rachel Lopez

Sitting at table next to each other, just outside of Affinity’s Mentor Center at Burton Elementary School, is Jovany and Larry. Although they might be from different backgrounds, generations, and zip codes, they are brought together by their love for learning, geography, and playing Yahtzee.

Excitedly, Jovany shakes his dice and rolls them across the table. Larry cheers him on as he tallies his score. Yahtzee! Jovany wins!

Every week 5th grader, Jovany, meets with his mentor, Larry, to play games (like Yahtzee), read new books, and learn about new places just as they have for the past 3 years.

“Jovany is really, really smart. He doesn’t need help with homework,” explains Larry. So instead Larry challenges him by teaching him new vocabulary, finding new places on the map, and reading bigger chapter books.

Jovany sees mentoring as “extend[ed] classroom learning.” A phrase that encompasses his own passion for learning and Larry’s aptitude for teaching. He believes “mentors help you learn in a fun, new way.”

The last book they read together was “Courage,” a story about a boy who was known as coward and on his adventure he learned to be brave. Not only did he find his new favorite book, but Jovany also earned a vanilla-cream cookie. One of the highlights of reading together in the Mentor Center.

Larry smiles as he looks at Jovany, “he’s a really good kid, I mean that in every way possible.” He believes mentoring is, “a wonderful and enriching experience.” He joined as a way to give back and as an element of service, but he stays because of Jovany.

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If you’d like to give back and get to know other awesome kids like Jovany, check out How to Become a Mentor or Sponsor a Mentor Match.