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Thanks to a generous donation from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Fisheries Division, mentoring programs throughout the state will receive mini-grant funds in 2013 to support fishing-related activities. As a result, youth and their mentors across Michigan will be able to enjoy the fun and excitement of fishing together.
In December, employees of the Fisheries Division held a silent auction with the proceeds benefiting Mentor Michigan - a state agency which supports 250 mentoring organizations throughout Michigan. In total, the group raised $3,340, which was awarded to the group during a check presentation ceremony on January 10, 2013 at the Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting. The funds will be dispersed to mentoring programs throughout the state to support fishing-related activities and expenses.
"Fishing is a great activity for youth," said Mentor Michigan Director Amber Troupe. "However, some mentees have never enjoyed the fishing experience because they don't have the proper equipment, transportation, or otherwise. With this generous donation from the Fisheries Division, we can now provide mentoring programs across the state with the funds they need to support fishing activities and other related expenses."
"For mentors and their mentees who already love to fish, we hope these grants will provide the resources mentoring programs need to make fishing a regular match activity," commented Fisheries Division Chief Jim Dexter, who presented the donated funds to Mentor Michigan. "For other mentoring matches who have never tried their hand at fishing, we hope these funds will allow their mentoring programs to create a first-time fishing experience that we know matches will love."
Additional information about the Mentor Michigan DNR Fisheries Division mini-grants, including application materials, activity ideas, and more, can be found at www.mentormichigan.org in the coming weeks.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Mentor Michigan supports nearly 250 organizations around the state that are changing lives by matching mentors with young people. Mentor Michigan provides those organizations with training and research. It fosters partnerships with businesses, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, schools, colleges and universities, and state and local government to support mentoring. Mentor Michigan also builds public awareness about the importance of and the need for mentors by urging caring adults to "Pass It On," because sharing a little of yourself with a young person can reward both of you with lifelong benefits.
Mentor Michigan is an initiative of the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), the state agency on service and volunteerism. In 2012-13, the MCSC is granting more than $7.5 million in federal and private funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities.
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