Dear Colleagues:

The beginning of each new year is usually a time of reflection and renewal.  And today, I find myself pausing to think about our accomplishments this past year for the people of the state of Michigan, and also about making commitments for the year ahead.  On a personal level, my husband Dan and I are again renewing our commitment to be mentors in our community.
 
During January - National Mentoring Month - Dan and I invite you to make a difference in the life of a child.  Become a mentor.  There are children in our neighborhoods who will be our leaders in the years to come.  How prepared will they be?  Who will they choose to emulate?  What values will they bring to our society?  And what are we doing to help prepare them for this awesome task? 
   
Dan and I know and understand the joys and trials of mentoring, because we are both mentors to local children right now.  An hour or two a week may seem like a serious commitment, and indeed it is.  But the rewards our family has received as a result of our mentoring experiences have been tremendous.  It is because of these gratifying experiences that we head-up Mentor Michigan - a statewide initiative that was created to raise awareness about mentoring and to enhance the quality of our mentoring programs.
 
We encourage you to consider becoming a mentor.  It takes no special talents.  Go for a walk, toss a ball, read a book, or help with homework.  If you're eligible for school/community leave, you may use that time to start an ongoing relationship with a young boy or girl who needs and deserves your care and concern.  If you're already a mentor, take a minute to encourage a friend or family member to join the nearly 30,000 other mentors in our state. 

For more information about mentoring, or to find a place to mentor in your community, visit www.mentormichigan.org and click on "Be a Mentor," or call 1-800-VOLUNTEER.  You'll be glad you did.  

Sincerely,      
Jennifer M. Granholm 
Governor