Bench Mark Program

How many acronyms can I use in one sentence? We are seeking business contributors for Bench Mark Program's PA DCED SPP Program (contributors earn a 90% tax credit on their gift). The SPP Program is a sub-program of the NAP, which is similar to the EITC Program, which supports Bench Mark as an EIO. If you're interested in tax credits for your business, but not interested in my acronyms, please watch the video below. We are hoping to engage five new business contributors by October 25th, 2024! Could your business be one of those five?

Which has created more positive change in your life: 1.) A short-term mentor who helped you out for 3-6 months and then faded out of your life? 2.) A long-term (multi-year) mentor who showed up and became a consistent, dependable resource to you? If you answered the latter, then shouldn't we focus on adapting our youth mentoring programs to support long-term, positive, multi-year mentorship? Our current-youth serving systems (government and private) are not designed to encourage long-term mentorship. Our current systems support short-term, evidence based programs, which operate on 3-6 month time frames, bound by funding limitations. Providing intensive support, creating positive change, and then returning youth back to their lives with little to no way to keep engaging with mentors/coaches/counselors who they have come to trust. How we'll change that is still a mystery to me. But we're working on it... Here's a start: create a way for kids to come back to your program after they "graduate," if they need more help. https://lnkd.in/eDYG_Uz9

At Bench Mark, we feel fortunate we get to work with kids like Trevor every day and mentor them to make positive changes in their life to achieve their goals. Recently, Trevor and Executive Director, Will Kiefer, were interviewed by NPR as they discussed Pennsylvania's rising gun violence rate, the reasons behind it and what's being done across the state to address it. Bench Mark is proud our work with high risk youth is part of the solution and we see that every day with our students. Please take the time to listen to Trevor's story and stories like his across the state: https://bit.ly/3TXlWge

Meet Julius. Just one of the students that comes to Bench Mark's Open Gym program every night. This year, your ExtraGive donation supports students like Julius by ensuring they have a safe, welcoming and motivating space to come to every night of the week. Our Open Gym program is entirely donor funded so we're counting on your support to continue to serve our students and our community. Visit https://bit.ly/2HRgFWz to give today!