Oregon Mentors Team ODEN
c/o Oregon Mentors
2142 NW Overton
Portland, OR, 97210
WHO
You! Oh, and Greg Oden, along with current mentors and kids throughout Oregon
WHAT
Oregon Mentors Team ODEN is a partnership between Greg Oden and Oregon Mentors – a non-profit organization that supports hundreds of youth mentoring programs in the state working to increase the number of caring adult mentors.
WHY
More than 100,000 young Oregonians could benefit from the caring attention of a mentor. Currently, only 24,000 kids are matched with mentors. Working with Oregon Mentors, Greg will help us reach our goal of 40,000 young people matched with qualified, caring mentors by 2010.
HOW
1. Through media and marketing campaigns
*Greg is helping to get the word out, across the state, about the benefits of mentoring and increase the number of volunteers. Be on the lookout for public service announcements, radio spots, large public events, and more.
2. Directly supporting mentor and youth activities
*Greg provides a block of tickets to mentors and youth for every Blazer home game.
*Future activities will include holiday parties, summer celebrations, contests, and more.
GREG’S MESSAGE
I have given a lot of thought to how to use my influence in the community. I always come back to mentoring, because I know how important mentors have been in my life. Without strong mentors, I wouldn’t be where I am.
A mentor is a person who cares about the opportunities in a kid’s life and encourages him or her to make good choices. My mom has been an unbelievably strong mentor my entire life, but she couldn’t have done it alone.
Mike Conley Sr. was my high school coach, and has been a great mentor. Now he’s my agent, so I continue to count on his guidance every day. Jimmy Smith, the father of my best friend Travis, is the Executive Director of the Terre Haute, Ind., Boys and Girls Club. I grew up in that club, and learned a lot from Mr. Smith along the way.
We lost Travis to a tragic car accident in 2007. I want to honor my friend by making his father proud of me by giving back and living my life the right way.
In partnership with Oregon Mentors, I’m recruiting people to help kids the way Mr. Smith and Mr. Conley helped me. I am encouraging Oregonians, men in particular, to be a mentor to a child in your community. Thousands of kids are waiting for someone to guide them, to believe in them and to make a difference in their life.
There are so many mentoring programs in Oregon that will work with different schedules and interests. All of them offer a ton of support. That’s really what Team ODEN is about — support. I hope you’ll join my team and start supporting a kid today.
-Greg Oden
#52, Portland Trail Blazers
(No Ratings Yet)
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