Milagro Mentor Messenger

LATE EDITION!

January 2025

Volume IV, Issue 1

Well, here we are in 2025 already! The holidays were a whirlwind of activity here at Milagro Center. Our students enjoyed a Toys for Joy gift giveaway, a shopping day for holiday gifts for their parents provided by Touch a Heart Foundation, a giving tree where they each picked a gift they wanted, art supplies donated by No Open Spaces, gifts galore provided by Spirit of Giving Network, and many more fun things.

Milagro students were out of school for 17 days and many attended our full day 2+ week winter camps at our STARS, Jr. Teen, and Teen Centers. The Jr. Teen and Teen girls received tie dye supplies and had a great time decorating their t-shirts. Thanks to our mentor Miss Tory, the Jr. Teen and Teens in winter break camp were treated to a movie at the IPIC along with lunch and snacks! Miss Tory’s employer, IMI Group generously underwrote the entire outing. Thank you!

Our afterschool programs are now running at full speed, so please make sure to resume your weekly sessions with your mentees.

If you have not already been featured in the monthly Mentor Spotlight, please make sure I get your photo taken with your mentee so we can celebrate YOU. I am looking for a spotlight for February so show your love on Valentine’s Day with a photo of you and your mentee!

Please remember to check the “important dates to remember” below, so that you can mark upcoming camp days and closure dates on your calendar.

Let’s make 2025 the best year ever for our kids!

With gratitude,

Ms. Laurie,

Director of Volunteers and Mentors

P.S. The National Mentoring Summit in Washington DC took place in late January and I am excited to share what's new in mentoring with you!

JANUARY 2025 MENTOR Spotlight!!!

I thoroughly enjoy being a mentor to Jada at the Milagro Jr. Teen Center. I strive to serve as a positive role model, sharing my personal insights and experiences. I encourage Jada to express herself through art. We enjoy arts and crafts such as bracelet making, painting, and making objects out of clay. I also love Jada teaching me about her favorite genre of music, K-pop! Ms. Laurie has provided great guidance for me, helping me navigate the mentor role.

My experience at Milagro Center has been truly rewarding, and I look forward to spending more time with Jada and continuing to learn from each other.

SUPPORT MILAGRO CENTER WITH NEW MERCH!

· Mentored teenagers earn better grades.

· 27 percent of mentored youth are less likely to begin using alcohol.

· 52 percent of mentored youth are less likely to skip school.

· Youth with mentors have increased likelihood of going to college, better attitudes toward school, increased social and emotional development, and improved self-esteem.

Courtesy of https://socialworklicensemap.com/

If you feel that your mentee could benefit emotionally from play, take this free course to understand better the benefits of play as therapy. The 2-hour course is provided free from Alison.

ALISON is an online education platform for higher education that provides free certificate courses in teaching & education, as well as IT, health, business and more.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Feb 6 – Mark your calendars! Milagro Center is proud to present its first-ever FREE community event "That Milagro Show", featuring our K-12 students and talented staff performing a wide variety of music, dance, and vocal stylings on Thursday, February 6th, 2025 at the Lake Worth Playhouse. Cheer for your mentee!

Feb 17 – camp day for Presidents’ Day, 8:30am-5:30pm. Please remember to check with your mentee in advance if you are planning to come that day.

Feb 24 – camp day for teacher’s day, 8:30am-5:30pm

Mar 24-31 – Spring Break camp 8:30am-5:30pm. Please remember that some kids may be traveling, so check with your mentee in advance.

Apr 18 – Milagro Center closed for Good Friday

May 3 – Milagro Center’s annual spring gala “Milagro Vibe” at the beautiful Indian Spring Country Club, Boynton Beach. Purchase your tickets in advance for this lively fundraising event with cocktails, fine dining, live entertainment, and fabulous auction items.