Communities In Schools Salutes Long-Time Friend Quincy Jones During National Mentoring Month 2007

Communities In Schools Salutes Long-Time Friend Quincy Jones During National Mentoring Month 2007

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools, the nation's largest dropout prevention organization, congratulates music producer Quincy Jones on being honored as the first ever "Mentor of the Year" during the sixth annual National Mentoring Month (NMM) campaign. Jones has long supported Communities In Schools and worked with the organization to help young people stay in school and prepare for life.

"Communities In Schools was founded on the principle that relationships -- rather than programmatic initiatives -- change children. Quincy Jones has embraced that philosophy through his actions and his influence," said Daniel J. Cardinali, president, Communities In Schools. "Not only has he given his own time with countless organizations like Communities In Schools, he has influenced others in all walks of life to get involved and make a difference."

National Mentoring Month 2007 is headed by the Harvard Mentoring Project of the Harvard School of Public Health, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Its sponsors include MetLife Foundation, DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund, and MCJ Foundation. The campaign's goal is to recruit adults to act as mentors that can help young people reach their full potential.

"I would like to thank Communities In Schools for recognizing that this honor is so important to me. I've worked with them for years, and their efforts to keep kids from dropping out by bringing caring adults into schools to address unmet needs is a perfect example of the spirit of caring that lies at the heart of National Mentoring Month," said Jones.

In addition to Communities In Schools, other leading nonprofit organizations, governors, and mayors are participating in National Mentoring Month 2007. State and local affiliates of organizations such as MENTOR, Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network, and America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America will coordinate local campaign activities such as media outreach and volunteer recruitment.

An additional campaign highlight is Thank Your Mentor Day. On January 25, Americans are encouraged to thank individuals who have made an impact on their lives. Thank Your Mentor Day promotes "Three Ways to Honor Your Mentor:" 1) Contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation; 2) "Pass it on" by becoming a mentor to a young person in your community; 3) Write a tribute to your mentor for posting on http://www.whomentoredyou.org/.

Communities In Schools is the nation's largest dropout prevention organization, working in more than 3,200 K-12 public schools. Founded in 1977, Communities In Schools is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. Today, nearly one million young people every year receive direct services through more than 200 Communities In Schools local affiliates in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Between 80-90 percent of our tracked students show improvement in academic achievement, attendance, behavior and promotion to the next grade level.

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Source: Communities In Schools

CONTACT: Peter Wilson of Communities In Schools, +1-703-518-2565,
wilsonp@cisnet.org

Web site: http://www.cisnet.org/
http://www.whomentoredyou.org/

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