Archive for March, 2008

I have received a letter from the following Vermont mother every year for the past four years, with some gift for Spectrum youth:

Dear Mark,
Today is my late son’s birthday. He would have been 26 years old, but for a tragic accidental overdose of heroin. He liked to go out to dinner, the little Indian restaurant on North Winooski Ave, Nectar’s, Perry’s or Shanty on the Shore’s “all you can eat shrimp”. This birthday I felt in my spirit that I’d like to fund the boys who live in your Murray Street group home going out to dinner, I hope that the $200 check enclosed will cover it. I’d like those boys to know that they are so precious and valuable. Their lives have great significance and they are recognized for choosing to be involved with the program and working toward a good future for themselves. The thought of a group of guys going out, having a good meal together, laughing and enjoying themselves will do me good. I wish I could be doing that with my son, but I’m blessed to be able to do this small thing in loving memory of him.

Sincerely,

Dear Spectrum,
Hi, my name is Meghan. At Missisquoi Valley Union High School, I am part of the national junior honor society (NJHS). I talked to the NJHS leader and told her how at Essex Alliance Church, we were collecting items for your organization. I asked her if we could do a bake sale to raise money for you to buy things to give to the teens. She said yes. On Feb. 7 we held a bake sale and we raised $83.25. I know you will use this money to help the teens and that makes me happy. Thank you for doing this for them.
Your friend in Christ,
Meghan Cornforth

Spectrum runs a mentoring program, currently we have 37 kids matched up with adult mentors, many of which are now past the one-year point. Five years ago we had only 6 matches, so I am very pleased that we have seen this important work grow.

I am also on the Mobius board of directors, which is the overall mentoring organization for Chittenden County, and at the last board meeting the E.D. of Mobius announced that the Burlington Boy’s and Girl’s Club wants to get into mentoring for their kids. I know the director there, Mary Alice McKenzie, a great and dynamic leader who is new and has lots of energy, and the B and G Club is less than a mile from Spectrum. I went over to see her last Friday with Joan White, our development director, and our message was, “Hey, we at Spectrum have been doing mentoring for years, quite successfully, we know how to vett and train mentors. Rather than re-invent the wheel, and have you expend your money and time on that, let’s collaborate, with Spectrum doing that aspect of the work for you.” Mary Alice seemed very happy with this offer, so we will be off and running soon. I think it is a good example of the type of collaborations which will have to occur in the coming years, as there are fewer and fewer resources available to nonprofits, particularly from government funding. Nonprofits need to become smarter and more efficient, and learn to work with each other rather than competing against each other.

Mark