The mentor program in Jasper County started around the year 2000 from the vision of local citizens, Mr. Larry & Mrs. Nancy Lynch, who had a desire to nurture children in Jasper County public schools. As volunteer mentors they recruited other volunteer mentors. Nancy Lynch worked as the volunteer coordinator for the program for several years.
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In 2004, Ms. Lynch stepped down from her role as coordinator and Princess Clarke, social worker for the Jasper County School System, stepped up to serve in that function. In addition to performing in her demanding position with our public schools, Ms. Clarke recruited volunteers, assumed responsibility for matching students with a suitable mentor, and coordinated field trips for mentors and mentees. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch continue to mentor children in our public schools and serve to ensure program sustainability by their valuable support of the mentor program.
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To further expand the scope of the mentor program, the school superintendent and mentors Larry & Nancy Lynch initiated a plan to search for and hire a paid director to head up the program. On July 15, 2005, Debra Hopkins was hired as director to recruit and train mentors, provide background checks to the superintendent, coordinate matches with school guidance counselors, provide mentor program events and activities, secure grants and funds, and create a structure for optimal functioning of the mentor program. This program functioned under the auspices of Jasper County Family Connection, a member of a statewide partnership committed to improving results for children and families at the local level.
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On February 26, 2008 the Mentor Advisory Board elected to incorporate the mentor program and secure a 501(c)(3) non-profit designation. A Board of Directors was elected on June 30, 2008.
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Jehan El-Jourbagy, of counsel to the law firm of Haygood Lynch Harris Melton & Watson, LLP, was hired to serve as Executive Director on June 1, 2010 and finished her service with the program on July 31, 2016. Ms. El-Jourbagy is a graduate of Jasper County public schools and is still actively involved in the community.
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Tamara Jernigan, former office manager of PAR Church Builders, Inc., was hired on July 18, 2016 to serve as the new Exacutive Director. Ms. Jernigan is a 2009 graduate of Piedmont Academy, where she served as a teen mentor for 2 years. Ms. Jernigan has significant office experience and an associates degree in both Business Administration and Criminal Justice.
Our volunteer mentors offer consistency and stability to vulnerable children by encouraging them, applauding their successes and providing unconditional acceptance and support to local youth who desperately need to know they are valued. Establishing a relationship with a mentor endows our mentees with key components needed to develop self-confidence essential to becoming productive and happy adults
Our Vision
We believe that every child deserves at least one person
unconditionally committed to his or her success.
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Our Mission
To nurture the educational, social and personal development of our children helping them thrive in school and life by providing them with successful caring mentors.
ABOUT US
