Approximately 125 individuals attended the COACH Kids Spring Banquet Thursday night on the patio at Arborwood. This banquet, which has been held in the fall, was moved to the spring this year.
Mentoring took center stage as the organization’s Mentors of the Year were honored as were the high school mentors. Randi Chambers was named as the Local Heroes Mentor of the Year and Joyce Jacobs was recognized as the Community Hope Mentor of the Year.
“These two ladies were chosen because they are very active with their mentee,” said COACH Kids Executive Director Susan Grasham. “We can see a very real difference they are making in these young ladies lives.”
Both Chambers and Jacobs said they have been mentoring for four years. Both said it was an honor to receive the awards they were given. Both were asked how do you respond to an individual who is thinking about becoming a mentor, but not sure.
“It’s 30 minutes a week of your time,” said Chambers. “It does make a huge difference. I have had a couple of people, family and friends, join because I do it also. It’s really not that hard.”
Jacobs echoed Chambers’ sentiments.
“You should definitely step up and try it because it just opens your eyes to a lot of things,” she said.
Five high school mentors were recognized as Local Heroes Scholarships winners. They were Corey Niemann (Clinton Central), Kylie Burris (Clinton Prairie), Kelsey Shields (Clinton Prairie), Maddy Wade (Rossville) and Skyler Miller (Rossville).
“We’re always in need of mentors,” said Grasham. “Right now, we have 13 kids actively waiting on the wait list.”
Sponsors of the event were Antioch Church (Class of Faith and Class of Hope), Steve and Mary Burkhalter, Mike and Jo Ellen Clark, Crop Insurance Specialists, Don and Sue DeWeese, Joel and Susan McKinney, First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Tim and Susan Grasham, Hardesty Landscaping, Chad and Stephanie Kozuch, Gerald and Pat McIlrath, Jay and Cheryl Pass and Jeff and Nancy Ward.
The 2018 COACH Kids Board of Directors are Steve Burkhalter, Jo Ellen Clark, Lisa Ford, Tim Grasham, Joyce Jacobs, Chad Kozuch, Kelly Kurth, Pat McIlrath, Joel McKinney, Cheryl Pass, Judy Pearson and Ken Skinner.