Tallahassee – Mayor Andrew Gillum launched the 1,000 Mentors program today, focused on recruiting a cadre of 1,000 men and women willing to volunteer their time as mentors and volunteers for youth in our community. The effort has partnered with several community agencies, including Leon County Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Grace Mission Church, Goodwill Goodguides, and several others, to support their great work and facilitate the development of caring and supportive relationships.

 “The youth of our community need guidance, encouragement, and support to dream bolder, and reach higher than they may think is possible,” said Mayor Gillum. “Mentors can serve as the catalyst for this way of thinking, and a powerful force in the development of young people in this community. Our goal is to recruit mentors from all backgrounds and experiences, to collectively invest in the future trajectory of our youth.”

In recognition of Mayor Gillum’s 1,000 Mentors Initiative, Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman had this to say:

“As the Governor’s lead agency for service and volunteerism in Florida, we are thrilled to see Mayor Gillum launch this exciting new initiative. Local governments are increasingly turning to volunteers as a cost-effective way to meet needs, and connecting mentors with students is a wonderful way to harness the power of human capital.”

Those interested in becoming a mentor can visit http://bit.ly/MentorsTLH to learn more and pledge their time. Interested parties can also spread the word by using the hashtag #MentorsTLH.