January is National Mentoring Month – a month dedicated to promoting youth mentorship in the United States. This year, Bridgeport-based Shepherds marks its 20th year of providing tuition support and adult mentors to underserved, at-risk high school students in the greater Bridgeport and New Haven areas.

Connecticut is a state known for excellent schools however high school graduation rates in many of our inner city schools is as low as 55%. Students often lack the academic preparation necessary to succeed in high school and beyond. Without support and attention, many students struggle to graduate.

Since 1998, non-profit Shepherds has provided tuition support and mentors to more than 219 young men & women entering college-preparatory high schools in the greater Bridgeport and New Haven areas. Shepherds’ graduation rate is 100%; most students move on to 2 and 4-year college programs. Today, 37 young men and 24 young women are working towards their high school diplomas at Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport and Notre Dame High School in West Haven.

Mentors make a monthly commitment of time and energy to an individual student and receive professional training and extensive staff support throughout their four-years of mentoring. Sponsors make a financial commitment and receive the reward of knowing they are making a sound investment in the life of an inner-city young person.

Shepherds needs mentors for twenty students entering high school in fall, 2018. If you want to change a young person’s life please contact Dan McAuliffe, Shepherds’ Executive Director, by April 15th at dmcauliffe@shepherdsmentors.org . For more information on the great work Shepherds does, visit www.shepherdsmentors.org.