Neighbor Grant Recipients Highlight – True Mentors

By Linda Kwok

TRUE Mentors just celebrated its eighth anniversary in Hoboken. It’s the only one-on-one mentoring provider for children ages 7 through 19 in Hoboken. In addition to mentoring, they also run an enrichment club and a teen internship program. Children who are going through a challenging time in life or at school, whether its a divorce, family illness or a learning disability, are often referred to TRUE Mentors by their school counselors or the child study team. At TRUE Mentors, children get to experience enriching activities like rock climbing or a cooking class, learn important life and job skills, and build positive relationships with caring adults and their mentor. Watch Amiyah and Leslie’s storyabout their 4+ years mentoring relationship.  

TRUE Mentors has experienced strong growth in 2018 with 25% average increase in enrichment club attendance and numerous matches between mentors and mentees. But as the only Hoboken based one-on-one mentoring organization, it needs your help to run the organization and provide enriching activities for all the children. It receives grants from organizations like Hoboken Family Alliance and the City of Hoboken, but raises most of its operating revenue through fundraisers and private donations. Please come to their 10th Annual Chili Cook Off on March 9th. Competition is fierce and the event always a blast! Sponsorship opportunity is still available - please contact katie@nulltruementors.org for more information. Like them on Facebook and Instagram (TRUE_Mentors). Check out their website and learn about how to become a volunteer or a mentor. Don’t have time to get involved? Mentor through monthly donation!Just $10/month. With the help of a caring community like Hoboken, we can help unearth the full potential of every child through positive relationships.

Linda Kwok is a realtor in town and a board member of TRUE Mentors.