A Campbell River child is being supported to participate in the KidStart Mentoring Program, thanks to the generosity of Chan Nowosad Boates staff members.
“In our community there are kids who could use some extra support through relationships with positive role models. For the third consecutive year, some of our staff have come together to support one of those children through KidStart,” said Karen Stewart, a partner in the accounting firm.
KidStart is offered by The John Howard Society of North Island (JHSNI) and is Campbell River’s only one-to-one mentoring program. This volunteer-based program connects caring adults with children (ages 6-18) for three hours of fun per week.
KidStart is founded on the principle that engagement with a caring adult outside a child’s family brings significant and long-lasting benefits. Mentoring programs like KidStart that match stable, competent adults with vulnerable children have proven to be highly successful by helping them cope with and avoid a high risk lifestyle.
You can choose to sponsor your child for as long as you like - from a couple of months to the entire length of his or her participation in KidStart.
The 10-year-old girl that Chan Nowosad Boates is sponsoring was identified as needing a mentor after moving to a foster family and experiencing struggles at school. She is greatly enjoying her time with her mentor.
“My mentor has a HORSE! And she even let me ride it. I can’t wait to be able to get really good on it. We do so much fun stuff, I can’t believe it. I want to hang out with her forever,” she said.
Chan Nowosad Boates is a Gold Champion sponsor. Staff pool their individual donations to come up with $100/month. Champions receive a profile of the child they are sponsoring (names are changed to protect privacy), annual updates, a Champion decal, and a tax receipt.
KidStart relies on donations, grants, and gaming revenue to be able to support vulnerable Campbell River kids. Campbell River currently has 78 children on the waitlist for KidStart.
Help a local child—donate to KidStart! Become a KidStart Champion monthly donor or make a one-time donation. KidStart also greatly appreciates admission passes and gift certificates from local businesses for mentor-mentee outings.
To find out more, contact Campbell River KidStart Coordinator Tara Jordan at 250-286-0611 or tara@jhsni.bc.ca. Visit JHSNI on the web at www.jhsni.bc.ca/kidstartchampion.html