Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) announced that First Niagara Bank will donate $50,000 to support the organization’s mentoring efforts, with a focus on initiatives in Western Massachusetts.
During Mass Mentoring’s annual Youth Mentoring Forum at State Street, which was held Jan. 23 at State Street Financial Center, MMP Chief Program Officer Marty Martinez thanked representatives from First Niagara for signing on as the Western Massachusetts sponsor of National Mentoring Month (January) and for their support of the annual Champions of Mentoring fundraising event with the Boston Red Sox, which will be held June 7 at Fenway Park.
“National Mentoring Month is a time when mentoring organizations across the country come together with a focus on raising awareness of the importance of mentors, acknowledging and appreciating current mentors, and positioning our organizations for future success,” said Martinez. “We’re thrilled to partner with First Niagara to promote National Mentoring Month and expand quality mentoring in Western Massachusetts.”
During January 2012 – National Mentoring Month – First Niagara will support MMP’s efforts to promote the importance of mentoring through a multi-faceted marketing campaign with a focus on Western Massachusetts. The partnership falls under First Niagara’s flagship mentoring program, Mentoring Matters, which was been successfully launched in Western and Upstate New York, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Throughout National Mentoring Month, MMP aims to help Massachusetts mentoring programs celebrate the everyday people who are making a difference for young people in their communities.
“First Niagara is committed to supporting organizations that make a lasting, sustainable impact in their communities, with a focus on mentoring and education,” said David Ring, New England Regional President, First Niagara. “We’re proud to support Mass Mentoring Partnership, an organization that has had such a profound impact on young people across the state of Massachusetts.”
First Niagara will work with MMP to identify high-performing mentoring programs and organizations that yield measurable results, and will provide funding for expansion of these programs in order to serve more youth. Currently operating a statewide network of 190 mentoring programs that serve almost 23,000 young people, MMP plans to double the number of young people in quality structured mentoring relationships by 2013.
Martinez added, “First Niagara’s contribution will allow us to reach an even greater number of students, and provide them with the tools needed to excel inside and outside the classroom.” Since 2007, First Niagara has provided $3.1 million dollars in support of Mentoring Programs throughout its footprint.
