Not even Mother Nature could dampen the enthusiasm and good feelings that surrounded the COACH Kids Spring Banquet held Thursday night at Arborwood.
Originally, scheduled to be held on the patio for the third straight year, an afternoon downpour forced the festivities inside where around 125 people attended.
Mentoring took center stage as the organization’s Mentors of the Year were recognized. Joan Elliott was named as the Local Heroes Mentor of the Year and Connie Skinner was honored as the Community Hope Mentor of the Year.
Both Elliott and Skinner have been mentoring for three years and they both said the individuals they mentor is very special to them.
“I love the kids,” said Elliott. “I’ve worked with kids for 36 years and following my little girl around to the different schools has been a little challenging sometimes. But, this award, goes to her really.”
Skinner shared similar thoughts.
“I started off as a Local Hero in the grade school to have lunch with the kids for 30 minutes and play games,” said Skinner. “That’s how it all started. It just progressed from that point and then that same young lady is now in Community Hope and I work with her six to eight hours each month and we do different things.”
Skinner added that’s just the beginning.
“I’m going to school plays and things that I was never exposed to before and it’s because the kids are telling me that they want me to be there so I can see them perform,” said Skinner. “It’s just a great thing to get to go there.”
Skinner is also enjoying life with high school kids as well.
“It means the world to me because I work with kids everyday,” she said. “One of my favorite jobs now is being a lunch lady at the high school. I get to talk to the kids. I see kids switching lines because the crazy little lady that talks to them is right up there.”
Elliott said she got involved with COACH Kids because of her sister-in-law.
“She’s been in it for 10 years and she brings her girl to our Christmas and Thanksgiving and to see them interact and stuff, it’s a great honor to be in it,” she said.
Elliott was asked what she would tell someone if they were thinking about joining COACH Kids, but weren’t sure.
“I would tell them that you get more out of it than the kids do I think,” said Miller. “It’s so heartbreaking sometimes, but it’s a wonderful program.
Skinner had similar sentiments.
“It’s not a huge commitment but it means everything to that child that one day a week, somebody’s going to come and have lunch with them,” she said.
COACH Kids Executive Director Susan Grasham said they are looking for people who understand what COACH Kids is and understand what the mission is.
“We are finding new ways to get committed with our kids and our mentors in our community,” said Grasham. “We’re getting connected with Frankfort Middle School and Frankfort High School in ways we haven’t before.”
Another highlight in the evening came when keynote speaker Josh Marshall, who was just named as one of the five Teachers of the Year for the Community Schools of Frankfort, related four heartbreaking stories from those he sees on a daily basis.
“It is always very powerful when we have a local teacher, educator and community member like Josh Marshall that shares his first hand experience with the kids and families in our community because he’s able to communicate it in a way that hits home with us,” said Grasham.
Seven high school mentors were recognized as Local Heroes Scholarship winners, including Emily Goodman, Molly Thomas, Mallory Robertson, Layne Snyder, Mica Royer, Dawson Jacoby and Robin Blackwell.
Sponsors of this year’s event were Antioch Church (Class of Faith and Class of Hope), Steve and Mary Burkhalter, Mike and JoEllen Clark, Crop Insurance Specialist, Dan Davis, Don and Sue DeWeese, Farm Bureau Insurance, Paris Farms, First Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Richard and Sandra Gable, Tim and Susan Grasham, Chad and Stephanie Kozuch, Lafayette Copier, Josh Marshall, Pat McIlrath, Joel and Susan McKinney, Jay and Cheryl Pass, Mark and Judy Pearson, Phillips Saw and Tool, Randy Pillion, Shoup’s Catering, Miriam Rich, VFW Auxiliary Post 1110 and Todd and Brooke Whitlock.
The 2019 COACH Kids Board of Directors are Steve Burkhalter, JoEllen Clark, Tim Grasham, Joyce Jacobs, Chad Kozuch, Kelly Kurth, Pat McIlrath, Joel McKinney, Mark Mitchell, Cheryl Pass, Judy Pearson, Bethany Sheets, Ken Skinner, Brett Todd and Todd Whitlock.