For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 18, 2002
National Mentoring Month, 2002
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
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.
GEORGE W. BUSH
# # #
|