FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Donna L. Pfrommer,
EVP, Brand Management &
Volunteer Engagement,
203-339-6312
dpfrommer@unitedwaycfc.org
Norwalk Mayor Issues
Mentoring Challenge to the Community
Mayor Moccia Encourages Community Members to Become Mentors
During National Volunteer Week
Norwalk, Conn. (April 22, 2013) – Mayor Richard Moccia of Norwalk, in collaboration with
Mayor John Harkins of Stratford, Mayor William Finch of Bridgeport and United Way of Coastal
Fairfield County’s Mentoring Institute, has issued a “Mayors’ Mentoring Challenge.” The first of
its kind in the State of Connecticut, this effort challenges other chief elected officials in Coastal
Fairfield County and individuals in the community to promote and support mentoring and
become mentors.
This is a community-wide effort to raise the level of public awareness of the need for mentors.
Mentoring is a powerful tool that is proven to ensure positive outcomes for youth who need a
caring adult in their lives. “As a long time mentor I know for sure what a meaningful positive
impact mentoring can have on a child’s life”, stated Mayor Moccia. “Mentoring helps improve
scholastic performance and lets kids know there are adults who care that they are on track to a
bright future. And mentoring has been an affirmative part of my own life; I have truly received
more than I have given by being a mentor in the Norwalk Mentor Program. I feel so strongly
about supporting United Way’s focus on mentoring.”
The Mayors want to highlight the importance of volunteering your time during National Volunteer
Week, April 21 – 27, and there is no better way to make a difference in the life of a child than
mentoring. All three Mayors are committed to improving the lives of young people in their
communities – one child at a time - through their own roles as mentors, by obtaining the support
of other chief elected officials to take the challenge, and through such means as proclamations,
speeches, and press releases.
“The best way for any community to create awareness of the importance of youth mentoring and
recruit more mentors is to lead by example. It begins with top City officials”, stated Dr. Susan G.
Weinberger, President, Mentor Consulting Group, and Mentor Champion for United Way of
Coastal Fairfield County’s Board of Directors. “In Southern Fairfield County, we have three
outstanding Mayors who are mentors and are inviting others to do the same. Their Mayors’
Mentoring Challenge is our chance to get out the message and reach a goal that will make a
difference in the lives of youth. I salute the Mayors of Norwalk, Bridgeport and Stratford for their
heroic efforts on behalf of mentoring”.
The Mentoring Institute of Coastal Fairfield County is a partnership of independent community,
school, career, faith and online mentoring organizations that work collaboratively to increase the
number of children and youth from throughout Coastal Fairfield County who are matched with
caring adults who want to make a positive difference in a young person's life. The Mentoring
Institute network members that serve Norwalk children and youth are Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Southwestern CT; Champions Mentoring Program, Family ReEntry, Inc.; Pen or Pencil National
Alliance for Faith and Justice; Project Friendship and Jr. Project Friendship, Family and
Children’s Agency; The Norwalk Mentor Program, Human Services Council; Wi-mentor,
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. These mentoring programs serve 393 Norwalk children
and youth and they have 292 children and youth on their waitlists. There are 230 Norwalk
residents currently mentors in at least one of these mentoring programs.
The goals of the Mayors’ Mentoring Challenge are to recruit 500 new mentors for the mentoring
programs that serve children and youth in Coastal Fairfield County and to cut in half the number
of children and youth waiting to be matched with a mentor.
To learn more about mentoring opportunities, visit www.mentor-ct.org
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is: “Together, we mobilize our communities to
improve people’s lives.” Our vision is that all at risk children in Coastal Fairfield County are
successful in school and prepared for success in life. United Way of Coastal Fairfield County
serves the towns of Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford, Westport, Trumbull, Easton, Monroe,
Weston, Norwalk, Wilton, New Canaan and Darien. Find out more at our website,
www.unitedwaycfc.org.
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