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Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance

Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance has invested in the future of the community by creating and supervising one-on-one long-term relationships between caring adults and at-risk school children in need of academic and social support.

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Mentoring fosters trust through a caring relationship. 

Mentoring provides assistance to learn important skills.  

Mentoring creates self-confidence and enables kids to aspire to their dreams. 

Mentoring helps kids cope with problems.

The organization supports each child with individualized attention and works differently from other local charitable organizations in that we:

  • Carefully pair a child with an adult mentor through thoughtful selection and monitoring
  • Staff well-equipped, on-campus centers where mentors and mentees meet weekly
  • Organize enriching field trips and social events
  • Offer mentor training and support programs as well as counseling services
  • Provide ongoing mentee support through scholarships and empowerment programs

To learn more, visit Sonoma Mentoring

2011 Star Award Winners

Joyce Miller (far left) and Mark Nilsson (far right) are both long-term Mentors. Joyce has given her time, heart and treasure to help further the success of both of her mentees, Isabel and Sarah.  Mark has been with his mentee, Ricardo, since 2007.  Both of these Mentors are incredible role models for their mentees and have had huge impacts on their lives.

Joyce and Mark are pictured here with Kathy Witkowicki, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance (center), Sarah Welty (second from the right) Joyce's first mentee, and Ricardo Paz, Mark's mentee (second from the right).

2010 Star Award Winner

 

SVF's 2010 Star Award went to Linda Higueras and Paul deBenedictis.  Also pictured, Esteban Fernandez, Paul's mentee (center).

Linda has mentored Miriam for 8+ years.  Miriam says, “Having Linda by my side since the fourth grade has allowed me to see a completely different world of possibilities.  She inspired me to dream big, and I am now the first in my Hispanic family of 40 cousins to go to college."