• Increasing the number of adult mentors who enter into quality mentoring relationships
• Helping mentoring programs employ effective practices to sustain themselves, create high-quality matches, and achieve positive outcomes for youth
• Diversifying and increasing financial and in-kind resources to support mentoring 
• Positioning mentoring as a powerful youth development strategy
• Generating research and knowledge to help advance the field of youth mentoring

The first challenge was launched by Suffolk County Sherriff and MMP Board Member Andrea Cabral at our Youth Mentoring Forum at State Street on Jan. 23:

1. Make a personal commitment to support youth mentoring
   So far, more than 130 people have told us how they personally plan to support youth mentoring in 2012.  Take our poll on Facebook or LinkedIn and tell us what you plan to do in 2012!
    
2. Increase funding for the Mentoring Matching Grants line item to $350,000
   The Mentoring Matching Grants line item (7061-9634) is the only state funding dedicated specifically to supporting youth mentoring programs in Massachusetts, with a focus on impacting academic outcomes including improving attendance, attitude about school, behavior in school, and academic performance, as well as improved self-worth and quality of relationships. Last year the Commonwealth increased its investment in mentoring from $100,000 to $250,000, nearly doubling the number of grants made and as a result the number of youth matched with caring volunteer mentors. This was the first increase that the line item has received in five years, and is a testament to the hard work and sustained advocacy of our network of mentoring programs, mentors, and legislative supporters of mentoring led by Rep. Pignatelli and Sen. Rosenberg.
   
   The challenge for 2012 is to continue to build support for the Mentoring Matching Grants line item and increase the funding amount to $350,000. Interested in getting involved? Visit our Advocacy page or contact Elena Sokolow-Kaufman at 617-695-2476 or eskaufman@massmentors.org to learn more about how you can help.
    
3. $200,000 of match activities for mentors and mentees
   The focus of a mentoring relationship is to spend quality time together. MMP supports mentoring programs and their matches by soliciting and distributing tickets and passes to venues and activities like museums, amusements parks and sporting events. We have developed a number of special programs such as Mentoring Night at Fenway Park, a Season Ticket Holder Donation Program with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, a Season Ticket Holder Donation Program with the New England Revolution, and a Match of the Game program with Vince and Bianca Wilfork and The Safety Insurance 98.5 The Sports Hub New England Patriots Radio Network.
   
   This year, MMP’s goal is to reach $200,000 in match activities for our mentoring programs. Help us get there by donating tickets, passes, gift cards or other special experiences. Contact Rich Greif at rgreif@massmentors.org for more information.
    
4. Highlight 20 mentors and their stories
   Mentors are some of the most humble and giving people. But what got them interested in becoming a mentor and what has the experience meant to them? This year, MMP wants to highlight 20 mentors across Massachusetts through news articles, social media and our blog. By telling their stories, we hope to encourage more people like them to become mentors. Have an idea for a great mentor for us to highlight? Contact Lauren Winfree at lwinfree@massmentors.org.
    
5. Mentoring Mentors
   A collaborative initiative of the Mentors of Color campaign and The Boston Foundation, the focus of Mentoring Mentors is to engage 20 professionals of color to mentor young professionals of color, who in turn agree to become mentors through a Mentors of Color mentoring program partner or another youth mentoring program. MMP and The Boston Foundation kicked-off the effort on April 4 with an intergenerational mixer where almost 100 people attended with 57 guests inquiring to become mentors! MMP Board Member & Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral, Alinea Capital Partners President & MOC Chairperson L. Duane Jackson, The Boston Foundation VP for Program Robert Lewis Jr., and former President & CEO of The Partnership Benaree Wiley were all on hand for the event. Check out photos on our Facebook page and this recap of the event, highlighting Sheriff Cabral's participation.

Stay tuned as we issue more challenges throughout the year. Want to know how you and your organization can support 20 Challenges in 2012? Visit our Get Involved page or contact Rich Greif, director of marketing and partnerships, rgreif@massmentors.org or 617.695.2478.