Walkers and runners numbering 350 rallied in Stamford recently to support the Stamford Public Education Foundation”™s mentoring efforts via the MarcUS for Change 5K Walk/Run at Cove Island Park.
MarcUS for Change is a Stamford-based nonprofit that works to raise money and awareness for mentoring programs in Stamford schools.
The event raised more than $65,000 toward the SPEF Mentoring Initiative, the foundation reported afterward.
Corporate sponsors included the regional offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Indeed.com, First County Bank, Nestlé Waters North America, The Berkowitz Law Firm LLC in Stamford and Cablevision/Lightpath.
For the 2013-14 school year, the program served students at eight schools in Stamford: Dolan Middle School, Cloonan Middle School, Domus Trailblazers Academy, Rippowam Middle School, Scofield Magnet Middle School, Stamford High School, Turn of River Middle School and Westhill High School.
The foundation”™s data reveal 66 percent of those involved with an education foundation mentor improved their grades or maintained a B average across semesters and 44 percent achieved a B average or higher during participation. Additionally, those being mentored signed up in droves ”“ 85 percent ”“ for after-school activities. Nearly three in four students in the program ”“ 71 percent ”“ did not discuss college plans before acquiring a mentor. Afterward, 82 percent discussed college. Businesspeople are among the 191 volunteers, “making up a large portion of the volunteers,” said Sennéa Raslan, program director and marketing specialist for the foundation.
“As a public education foundation, SPEF makes it easy for businesses to support the Stamford Public Schools by targeting their donations to programs such as mentoring and by giving their employees an opportunity to volunteer with students who will flourish with the additional help of a caring adult,” said Susan Rigano, the foundation”™s executive director.
