Los Altos Town Crier » Make a difference by becoming a ‘Partners’ member

By Marlis McAllister and Lois Adams

$Image from article Make a difference by becoming a \'Partners\' member$
BRUCE BARTON/TOWN CRIER
Pictured from left are: Bob Adams, founder, Partner For New Generations; Hinda Weber, co-chairwoman of the Partners board in conjunction with the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District; Sandie Whipple, co-chairwoman, Partners; Linda Waud, Alta Vista High School coordinator; Carole Dorshkind, coordinator, Mountain View High School; Marlis McAllister, public relations; Anne Battle, coordinator, Los Altos High School; and Partners co-founder Lois Adams.

Do you have an hour or two of spare time and want to change the life of a child? You can make a difference! Partners for New Generations (PNG) is looking for volunteers. Watch for the PNG “You Can Make A Difference” column that will appear on a regular basis in the Town Crier.

PNG began in 1997 as a Los Altos Rotary project to match adult volunteers with organizations serving youth in the Mountain View-Los Altos-Los Altos Hills area. Since then, it has chalked up many successes. Mentors and tutors have helped many troubled high school students build their self esteem, get back on track and graduate from high school.

One PNG mentor even helped a non-English speaking teen-aged immigrant student attain his dream of becoming a reporter for the Washington Post!

The mentor program started with 15-20 mentor/student pairs at Alta Vista High School in Mountain View, a continuation school for at-risk teens. It now supports 100 mentor/student pairs at Alta Vista, Los Altos and Mountain View high schools. The Los Altos Community Foundation and David and Lucille Packard Foundation have given PNG grants to funds salaries for mentor coordinators at each of the schools.

PNG recruits tutors to assist students in the Mountain View and Los Altos elementary, middle and high schools. There is no shortage of English language learners, special needs children and students who are

challenged in one subject or another, especially English

and math.

All mentors and tutors are fingerprinted, a process that is underwritten by the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District.

Many mentors enjoy their experience so much they continue to see their students during summer vacation and after the students graduate.

If you have a few hours a month to give to the youth in our community, call PNG at 949-0828, ext. 4, or e-mail partners@losaltosrotary.org.