New Haven Archives - Shepherds Mentors

NDWH Mentor Spotlight: Dr. Andre Sofair

Colleen Phelan | July 30, 2021

Dr. Andre Sofair is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Yale Medical School and holds a secondary appointment in the School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases. In addition to this impressive resume, Dr. Sofair has spent the past four years as a Shepherds Mentor to graduating NDWH student, Jamar, who will be attending Trinity College this fall. Dr. Sofair found the experience so rewarding that he has signed up to mentor an incoming Notre Dame freshman/Shepherds Student this fall.

When asked what made the mentoring experience so enjoyable that he volunteered to mentor again, Dr. Sofair said, “Very few things are as valuable as a good education. It is what gives you wings to soar and explore the world. It gives you the skills to contribute to your community and freedom to choose how to do so. I can think of no better way to share my time then to mentor a young man during his high school years.”

Thank you to Dr. Sofair and all our Shepherds Mentors for guiding our Shepherds Students.

Thank You Heisman Trophy Trust

Colleen Phelan | October 15, 2020

In an exceptionally challenging year for nonprofits, Shepherds is extraordinarily grateful for a recent contribution from the Heisman Trophy Trust. Their generous gift will help fund tuition and programing for Shepherds students at Notre Dame West Haven High School.

Thank you to the Trustees of the Heisman Trophy Trust for your continuing your long-standing commitment to Shepherds and our students.

Thanks to the generosity of many individuals and foundations, like the Heisman Trophy Trust, Shepherds has been helping close the educational opportunity gap in Connecticut’s inner cities for 22 years.

Who ARE Shepherds Students

Colleen Phelan | September 14, 2020

For over 20 years, Shepherds has been empowering inner-city Connecticut teens to build a foundation for success by helping close the educational inequality gap in Fairfield and New Haven counties.

Shepherds provides each student the tuition support to attend a college preparatory education, academic and life skills programs, and the positive role model and four-year guidance of a Shepherds Mentor.

Shepherds is repeatedly asked the question, “Who are your students?” We are able to provide the demographics of race, gender, income difficulties, etc., and these are important data points about our students. However, it doesn’t capture who they ARE.

This year, we asked the incoming freshman to write a poem entitled, “I AM.” Shepherds believes these poems are powerful statements about who our students are – what their hopes, goals, dreams and fears are.

To find out how you can be a part of changing a teen’s life, go to www.shepherdsmentors.org or contact Executive Director Dan McAuliffe at info@shepherdsmentors.org.

You can make a difference, right in your own backyard.

Notre Dame West Haven Alumnus Gives Back

Shepherds | June 19, 2020

This is NDWH ’11 Mike DeChello’s second time as a mentor. “A few years ago, my father’s friend, Mark Milano, reached out to me and told me about Shepherds and that mentors were needed,” said Mike.

That conversation with his father’s friend was an ah-ha moment for Mike, “After college, I realized that there was still an opportunity to help the community I love – Notre Dame.”

Jalanni was the first student he mentored. An outstanding Notre Dame basketball player, he attends Canisius College and plays on their basketball team. “I remain in touch with Jalanni. He is a good kid and really took advantage of the opportunities he was given.”

Now Mike mentors Alan L. (ND ’22). “I’m a strong advocate for his success. I’m encouraging him to pursue club activities and improve his grades while at ND. Alan is a great soccer player and I enjoy watching him play. We really also enjoy just hanging out.”

When Mike was told he was one of the youngest mentors Shepherds has had at Notre Dame, he was surprised. “Being a Shepherds mentor to an ND student is an enjoyable experience. It is the natural extension of what I learned at ND and a great way to make a direct impact on fellow ND brother.”

Executive Director of Shepherds, Dan McAuliffe agrees, “We need more men like Mike to mentor our Shepherds’ students at Notre Dame. We need five mentors and sponsors for incoming Notre Dame freshmen that are a part of the Shepherds program.”

If you’re unable to participate as a mentor this year, the need is equally great financially to support the Shepherds program. To find out more about the role of mentoring a Shepherds student or how to support the program financially, email info@shepherdsmentors.org, or call Dan McAuliffe at 203-367-4273 or click the link below to find out more.

Join Mike DeChello in helping achieve Shepherds’ mission of Changing Lives…One Student at a Time., Notre Dame West Haven.

Ways You Can Help Shepherds Students

NDWH Alumnus Greg Dillon is a Long-Time Mentor

Shepherds | May 11, 2020

Greg has been mentoring students from Notre Dame West Haven in the Shepherds program for over a decade. “It is very satisfying to provide guidance to a young person and see him grow and develop into a young man.” A NDWH graduate himself, he values the education of the hearts and minds the high school provides. When paired with a caring Shepherds mentor, the possibilities are endless for the students.

Mentoring a high school student can change a life. You can too! Shepherds is recruiting mentors for the class of 2024 beginning this fall. By becoming a mentor, you are doing your part to ensure that today’s students have the tools and support they need to succeed. Join us today by contacting Executive Director Dan McAuliffe at info@shepherdsmentors.org or call 203-367-4273.

Shepherds Seniors Zoom into Their Future

Shepherds | May 7, 2020

Shepherds’ seniors at our partner schools, Notre Dame West Haven and Kolbe Cathedral, are in the midst of making their college selection for the fall. Unlike previous years, COVID-19 is making in-person guidance counseling and mentoring very challenging for students and their guidance counselors. Analyzing academic goals, financial aid packages and potential transportation issues is a daunting task for many of our first-generation students. We are happy to report that they are rising to the challenge!

Their hard work and dedication in school is having an enormous impact in the options they have for college. The Shepherds program along with our partner schools, provide an education that has an impact that lasts long after our students graduate high school. We will announce their final selections in June and hope to find a way to to honor their accomplishments in person this summer.

Shepherds is recruiting mentors for the class of 2024. Be a part of the next group of Shepherds students’ success by applying to be a mentor today! To find out more, contact Dan McAuliffe at info@shepherdsmentors.org or call 203-367-4273

Shepherds Receives Three Key Grants Totaling $22,500

Shepherds | January 27, 2020

Shepherds is pleased to announce that we have recently been awarded three grants to support the Shepherds program.

Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund via the Westport/Weston YMCA granted Shepherds $10,000 to expand our capacity and to serve and to help fund the three parts of the Shepherds program.
Inner City Foundation has provided Shepherds with $10,000 for the specific purpose of tuition support.
Henry E. Niles Foundation has given Shepherds $2,500 to support our student programming and mentoring support.

As our partner schools have started accepting applications for their fall 2020 freshmen classes, Shepherds needs to find mentors and sponsors for these deserving students. To find out more, contact Dan McAuliffe, info@shepherdsmentors.org.

Giving Tuesday

Shepherds | December 3, 2019

A financial contribution to Shepherds this Giving Tuesday has a tremendous impact on a local high school student. Shepherds students are successful students who continue their education after high school. Our graduation rate is 95% compared to their Bridgeport and New Haven peers graduation rate at 55-60%. Last year, 100% of our students went on to institutions of higher learning. We have a tremendous core group of volunteers, but we still need financial resources to continue providing tuition, academic and social support services to our students.

Join us in ensuring Shepherds students can build that solid foundation by donating today.

http://shepherdsmentors.org/donate-now/

2019 End of Year Update

Shepherds | July 1, 2019

Shepherds staff and Board wish to thank our mentors, sponsors and donors for their generosity. The 2018-19 school year was very successful for our program and, most importantly, our students. Check out the highlights of what was accomplished this year! …