National Mentoring Month, 2002

Proclamation 7519 of January 18, 2002

National Mentoring Month, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

National Mentoring Month allows us to recognize the
important contributions made by the millions of our
fellow citizens who choose to strengthen our Nation by
giving their time, effort, and heart to serve as a
mentor and role model for a young person. Through
quality education programs, community initiatives, and
personal involvement, mentors help our children become
better citizens by showing them how to make the right
choices, to work hard, and to care for their neighbors
in need. Mentors play an important role in a child's
life, particularly if a parent is absent. A mentor's
involvement in the life of a child can brighten that
child's future, help maintain healthy families, and
help promote more vibrant communities.

Community mentoring programs have given millions of
young people, particularly those at high-risk for poor
school performance and behavior problems, a boost in
life. Statistics indicate that most children who have
been mentored improve their school attendance and
performance, go to college, and are less likely to use
drugs or alcohol. By being a positive role model, a
mentor can demonstrate the blessings of living a
virtuous life by sharing their values and experiences
and motivating a child to learn and achieve. We must
teach our children the difference between right and
wrong; and we must seize every opportunity to help a
young person find the right path. We must also teach
discipline and accountability.

Many adults recall lessons they learned from childhood
as a result of observing and interacting with role
models. They recognize their childhood homes and
schools as places where love, encouragement, and
instruction provided them with the tools they needed to
become contributing citizens. Today, the role of
families, schools, and communities remains crucial to
providing stability and direction to America's young
people.

My Administration strongly supports Federal, State, and
local programs that help families stay together, keep
both parents involved in their child's life, and
utilize our education system to stand by parents and
reinforce the values that are taught in the home. I am
particularly pleased that the Congress passed and I
have signed into law legislation I proposed to
strengthen and expand successful mentoring initiatives
aimed at serving a vulnerable population: children
whose parents are incarcerated. This new initiative--
``Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of
2001''--represents the first comprehensive Federal
effort to improve the lives of these children. This
important legislation will help surround vulnerable
youth with positive, one-on-one role models, and help
them not just dream big dreams, but achieve them.

On the occasion of National Mentoring Month, we pay
tribute to the parents, teachers, community leaders,
and citizens who serve as mentors and role models for
our children. We encourage others to become involved in
mentoring.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim January 2002 as National

Mentoring Month. I call upon the people of the United
States to recognize the importance of being role models
for our youth, to look for mentoring opportunities in
their communities, and to celebrate this month with
appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two
thousand two, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B