We invite you to participate in what could be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life: becoming a mentor. Camden County is proud to partner with the Amachi Program, Volunteers of American of the Delaware Valley, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Camden and Gloucester Counties and the Center for Family Services to provide mentors for at-risk youth in Camden and the surrounding communities.

You can provide the guidance a child needs by volunteering as little as one hour a week. No special skills are needed, just the willingness to care and spend time with a child in need of a structured and trusting relationship. By offering support and encouragement aimed at developing character, you can be a hero in the life of a child.

Please consider volunteering to become a mentor. A child is counting on you.

Click here to become a mentor

Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (at left) presents proclamation to NFL star Rashad Baker for his support of the Freeholders’ mentoring efforts in Camden County. Also honored is Rick Pernell (second from right), development director for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, one of the county’s partners in the mentoring initiative. At right is Freeholder Riletta Cream who joined the director in honoring Rashad Baker, a Camden native who plays safety with the Oakland Raiders.

FREEHOLDERS LAUNCH
CAMPAIGN TO RECRUIT MENTORS

The Camden County Freeholders hosted a mentoring “summit meeting” on Oct. 30 at Camden County College’s new Tech Center in Camden. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. was the summit’s keynote speaker. The summit provided a forum to foster the recruitment of mentors for at-risk youth in the City of Camden and surrounding communities.

The County is working with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Volunteers of America in this effort. Social service agencies, churches, school superintendents from throughout the county, and representatives of the county and city governments participated in the three-hour summit. W. Wilson Goode, Sr., former Philadelphia mayor, discussed the successes of Amachi, the organization he created to provide mentoring services to children of incarcerated adults in Philadelphia and beyond.

“There are already a number of non-profit social service agencies providing mentoring services, so the county government is seeking to play a “clearing house” role, coordinating existing efforts and directing an aggressive mentor recruitment campaign,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr.

“The ‘summit’ was the first step in an effort we hope will result in bringing about lasting solutions to problems facing youth in Camden city and other communities throughout the county,” Cappelli said.

Watch highlights from the Mentoring Summit featuring:

Louis Cappelli, Jr., Director
Camden County Board of Freeholders

Robert Jakubowski, President/CEO
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Camden & Gloucester Counties

W. Wilson Goode, Sr., Director
Amachi Mentoring Program
former Mayor of Philadelphia

Volunteers of America of the Delaware Valley

Center for Family Services