"Mentoring is one of the most meaningful ways you can volunteer because you can significantly impact the life of a young person," Mulhern said.  "These grants will help to recruit more mentors who are everyday heroes that transform a life or even a community through their simple commitment to make a difference."

Although recruiting mentors is a year-long effort, planning to commemorate this year's Michigan Mentoring Month began in August 2008 with the grant initiation process.  Priority was given to organizations that (1) partnered to recognize mentoring, (2) developed unique ways to promote mentoring in their communities, and (3) participated in the Mentor Michigan Wave VI Census study that tracks mentoring efforts across the state.  This is the second year Mentor Michigan has awarded mini-grants for efforts to recognize the valuable contributions of mentoring relationships.

One of this year's grantees, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint, will use the monies to sponsor its Third Annual Mentor Inspiration Breakfast which occurs on Monday, January 19, 2009, at Mt Olive Baptist Church in Flint.  This year's program will feature a "Big for a Day" component, which will pair interested community members with unmatched children at the event. 

Governor Jennifer Granholm has proclaimed January as Michigan Mentoring Month as it coincides with the national celebration of mentoring month.