Mentoring efforts to receive $100,000 in state grants
Governor and Coach Snyder committed to closing the mentoring gap in Kansas

Recognizing the tremendous need for mentoring in Kansas, Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Coach Bill Snyder today announced the availability of $100,000 in state grants to support mentoring efforts across the state.

“We know there are approximately 50,000 young Kansans who are interested in having a mentor,” Sebelius said.  “We want to provide financial support to mentoring programs and communities to help meet this need.”

This marks the second consecutive year that state grants will be available to mentoring efforts.  In fiscal year 2006, Kansas Mentors, a statewide initiative led by Sebelius and Snyder, awarded more than $190,000 in state grants to 18 organizations.

In the past year, Kansas Mentors has done extensive outreach to gather feedback to identify how to increase mentoring opportunities throughout the state. Feedback was gathered both through a statewide survey and through facilitated discussion sessions with attendees of the Governor’s Conference on Mentoring and the six regional training workshops Kansas Mentors hosted in spring 2007.

“Through these efforts, we know providing financial support to programs is critical for the sustainability and expansion of mentoring in Kansas,” Snyder said.  “And we also know that collaboration amongst programs, schools and communities is essential for continued success of mentoring efforts, which is why applicants are required to identify collaboration efforts to be eligible for the funds.”

Grant applications are available at www.ksmentors.ks.gov/news.htm

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