Staples supports mentor program for home-state youth

BOSTON — Staples is working with Mass Mentoring Partnership, an organization that provides youth mentoring opportunities, to recruit adult mentors for approximately 3,000 youth in its home state of Massachusetts. In addition, the retailer is donating $25,000 to the cause.

“By creating meaningful mentor-mentee relationships, mentoring programs serve as important vehicles for promoting youth development in Massachusetts,” said Marty Martinez, chief program officer for Mass Mentoring Partnership. “Support from Staples provides us with the opportunity to create greater awareness around the importance of mentoring, encourage adults to become mentors in their local communities and help businesses see how they can help transform the lives of young people across the state.”

According to a Mass Mentoring Partnership press release, Staples supported MMP in 2010 and 2011 with $25,000 annual donations in support of National Mentoring Month to increase awareness around the growing need for mentors for at-risk Massachusetts youth. With Staples’ assistance, MMP received more than 1,780 inquiries from potential mentors, a 90% increase from 2009. National Mentoring Month is the kickoff to MMP’s 2012 goal to generate more than 2,000 inquiries from potential mentors to serve youth in Massachusetts looking to connect with an adult mentor.

“Mass Mentoring Partnership’s dedication to expanding quality mentoring throughout Massachusetts aligns with Staples’ commitment to supporting programs in our own backyard that provide educational opportunities and job skills for local youth,” said Amy Shanler, director of community relations for Staples Inc. “Staples’ support of Mass Mentoring Partnership will help the organization find positive adult role models that increase future academic and career opportunities for young adults.”