Thank Your Mentor Day

-As a centerpiece of National Mentoring Month, January 2013, Thank Your Mentor Day will be celebrated on Thursday, January 17th.  On that day, many Americans will reach out to thank or honor those individuals who encouraged and guided them, and who had a lasting impact on their lives.

            The theme for Thank Your Mentor Day is “Who Mentored You?  Thank  Them, and Pass it on—Become a Mentor”.  The goal is to encourage people to think about individuals in their lives during their formative years—family members, teachers, coaches, neighbors, employers, friends—who encouraged them, showed them the ropes, and helped them become who they are today.  Then, thank them and encourage others to become mentors.

            “Most people have someone who helped them somewhere along the line,” says Janet Sharma, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  “This is a chance to say ‘thank you’ and at the same time take advantage of this national initiative to inspire others to become mentors.”

            Thank Your Mentor Day promotes “Four Ways to Honor Your Mentor”:

• Contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation


• “Pass it on” by becoming a mentor to someone in your community


• Make a financial contribution to a local mentoring program, like the Volunteer Center’s Mentoring Moms and Mentoring Youth Programs.


• Write a tribute to your mentor for posting on the national mentoring website www.WhoMentoredYou.org