Written by Aidan’s mom, Jane

Aidan, my bright and happy boy, began meeting with his Kids Hope USA mentor, Miss Stacie, in the fall of 1st grade. They met every Wednesday, and that day quickly became his, and my, favorite day of the week. I had a continued and overwhelming sense of peace and happiness, especially on those days. From 1st grade all the way through middle school, my son Aidan met with Miss Stacie for one hour, each week. She became a trusted friend, his second mom, and one of his biggest cheerleaders.

When we would get ready for school on Wednesdays, Aidan would always say with excitement, “It’s a Miss Stacie day!” He looked forward to those meetings every week and was so grateful that they had 8 incredible years together.

Many life lessons emerged from their relationship, and they became philosophies our family has adopted as Aidan lives out this next chapter of his life. We received so many blessings because of Aidan and Miss Stacie’s friendship, but here are our top 10:

Having Miss Stacie invest her whole heart into her relationship with Aidan has shown him the importance of investing in others. It has helped to shape him into a kind and caring young man who values relationships and cares about others.

Aidan’s joy became my joy. His excitement was contagious. And Wednesdays will always be a special day.

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One of my mentors shared a key thought with me this summer around generosity. He said simply, “A gift should be transformational, not transactional.” I believe that each donation to Kids Hope USA is an opportunity for the giver to help transform the lives of children and mentors through loving and supportive one-on-one relationships.  

When I think about that conversation, I am reminded of the quote by Henri Nouwen that says, “Our humanity comes to its fullest bloom in giving. We become beautiful people when we give whatever we can give: a smile, a handshake, a kiss, an embrace, a word of love, a present, a part of our life . . . all of our life.”  

I am optimistic that when people give to Kids Hope USA, they do so because they believe in this ministry and in the value of the mentor-student relationship. But most importantly, I pray that each gift is a God-inspired, transformational, humanity-coming-alive, moment for the giver. Because each gift creates the opening for transformation in the lives of children and mentors, schools and churches, families and communities.   

As we celebrate God’s faithfulness through our first 25^th year of mentoring, please be generous to Kids Hope USA, and make a gift that will be transformational for you and for the children we serve. This week, one generous donor will match the first $2,500 raised, dollar-for-dollar! We are grateful for you and so many others whose gifts help propel us forward as we serve more children in the years to come.  

May your giving be transformational and may you know the impact of your generosity.  

For the kids, 

Kara Nguyen 
Director of Development 

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“Could you help me find a mentor for my son Miles?” Jane asked. She had heard about Kids Hope USA from a friend whose son had a mentor.

Miles is a quiet, fifth-grade boy, and his mom hoped that having a mentor who was committed to their friendship would help his self-confidence. A few weeks later, Miles met Steve, a Kids Hope USA mentor through Fellowship Bible Church. Due to COVID-19 and the in-person restrictions at Miles’ school, their friendship began over 30-minute Zoom meetings on Wednesday afternoons. Steve recalls that Miles was quiet during that first meeting and kept his answers to Steve’s questions short. It was a little hard to tell if Miles was enjoying their conversations or not.

One week, at the end of their session, Miles asked, “Can we meet again tomorrow?” Snow had fallen in Little Rock and school was cancelled; Steve was stuck at home too, so they thought, “why not?” With his mom’s permission, Miles and Steve connected again and continued building on their budding friendship.

Well into second semester, Miles and Steve are thoroughly enjoying their Wednesday meetings. Together they’re reading a book about Frederick Douglass and Miles is much more talkative. He hears Steve reading with expression and he’s starting to do the same.

A few weeks ago, Steve pointed out that since they are meeting virtually, they can go anywhere on adventures together. So, they took a virtual trip to the San Diego Zoo. The Zoo has live webcams that allow viewers to select animals and watch them just as they would in the zoo! Steve shared his screen and Miles picked the animals, just like a real trip to the zoo – but quieter and without the crowds!

Steve and Miles are having a ball and are hoping to meet in person soon. He can’t wait to see how Miles continues to learn and grow. They are both grateful for their new mentoring friendship through Kids Hope USA.

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Written by Pastor Greg Rensberry, Pastor, Mapleview Free Methodist Church, Niles, MI

I started mentoring Cody* at the start of his kindergarten year. From the beginning of our friendship, I could feel his distance and anxiousness. He was withdrawn and I knew he was afraid to trust me. One day I arrived at school and Cody was already having a hard day. The principal looked at me, smiled and sighed, saying, “Well Pastor Greg, do your magic!” We met together each week for four years, all the way through his third-grade year. By the end of that year, we had formed a deep and special friendship, and he and his teachers had learned to trust me and rely on me to be both a friend and champion for Cody. Those four years, I learned a lot about life, both my own and through the lens of a child who was facing so much adversity.

Here are my four biggest lessons learned as a Kids Hope Mentor:

1. Relationships take time, patience, and flexibility.
   The goal is always connection over content. My purpose in that school was to be a friend to Cody and make sure he felt valued, treasured, and heard.
2. Always clearly communicate this truth: “I am on your team.”
   Every year that my relationship strengthened and grew with Cody, it grew with his teachers, the principal, and other school staff too. It is said that it takes a village, and I was grateful to be a part of Cody’s.
3. Balance form and flexibility.
   Kids Hope USA provides a great format for the mentoring hour, but it is important to be aware of your student’s needs and what they might require week by week or year by year. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
4. Serving as a Kids Hope USA mentor transcends the one-hour mentoring hour with a single student.
   People notice – and they catch on to goodness that they see. One day when I picked up Cody, a student walked up to me and said, “You have been Cody’s friend since Kindergarten!” I was astounded by his observation, and I said, “You are right! And you know what – I know you have been a friend to Cody too.”

*Name has been changed for privacy.

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Contributed by:

Anne Broaddus, Director Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, Waco, Texas

Davina Pennington, Regional Director, South and Southwest, Kids Hope USA

In 2009 our principal asked us to pray for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders as they took the state mandated tests. She assigned each child a number on a master list of student names, sent me the numbers to hand out, and our Kids Hope Pray-ers concept was born! As we prayed, we prayed with confidence that God knew exactly which child each number represented!

The big surprise came months after testing. I would receive messages via text or email: I’m still praying for #1-5 . . . praying for #299 & 300 . . . #150-160 . . . praying for #18. The messages came from far and wide! God’s people were praying for a group of children they’d never met – pounding on the doors of Heaven on behalf of these little ones – adding their voices to those of mentors and prayer partners as we interceded for the children.

God’s word in 1 Samuel 12:23a, is a stark reminder to keep on interceding “…far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.” To be sure, there are days we fall short and fail to intercede, but on so many other days, God’s people can be found praying for thousands of precious children across our nation.

One of those pray-ers is Virginia, the former mayor of our city, who became a champion for Kids Hope USA soon after our program began growing in Waco. Sharing a passion to help vulnerable children, the two of us soon became good friends. So, in March 2019, when we were looking for a pray-er for each child taking the state mandated tests, I contacted Virginia! And without hesitation, she asked for 8 children to pray for through the March-April testing.

“Anne, know that I keep my students on my calendar and pray at 6:30 every morning. Their names are the first I see when I wake up! I will continue to pray for them during the summer, praying that they will be safe from harm, eating, playing, reading and sleeping well and hugged daily. I thank you for ‘introducing them to me…’ The children are one of God’s precious gifts to our community.”

That August, Virginia reached out again. “I do hope [the students] have had a good summer and are ready for school to begin! I still pray for them at 6:30 each morning.” The following August 2020, 1½ years after her first assignment, Virginia emailed again to let me know she was still praying for the students daily.

What a gift each prayer partner and pray-er have been to our Kids Hope ministry! Prayer is a solitary effort, but I believe it may be the most important component of our Kids Hope USA mentoring ministry! Through the years, we’ve been allowed to see God at work producing abundant fruit in children’s lives, including a number of high school graduates whose mentors are still with them, rejoicing at milestones, giving thanks for their relationship and of course, praying always!

Virginia’s small church began a KHUSA program and she fulfilled her dream of mentoring a child at a local elementary school! Our God can move mountains. Our God does move His people to love and mentor the children, but God also moves us to intercede on behalf of them!

O Lord, hear our prayers.

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Written by Kara Nguyen, Kids Hope USA Director of Development and Kari McLennan, Kids Hope USA Program Support Specialist

For 17 years, Mr. Gary has been a Kids Hope USA mentor through his local church. He’s invested countless hours into the lives of kids in his community, and when the opportunity came to start with a new student five years ago, he said, “Yes!”, once again.

Mr. Gary and Eli met when Eli started first grade and for four years, Mr. Gary came to Eli’s school on Tuesdays. They’d usually spend their hour together in the gym, throwing the football, playing wiffleball, or whatever else Eli was interested in that week. Academic work is a challenge for Eli, but he has been improving with the help and encouragement of Mr. Gary. While they played games, Mr. Gary would often quiz Eli, so they could learn side by side.

During Eli’s 4th grade year, Mr. Gary moved away, but the distance didn’t stop Mr. Gary’s commitment to Eli. He decided that every other week, he would make the drive to Eli’s school, over 150 miles each way, so they could continue their friendship. What used to be an hour commitment turned into nearly a full day, but Mr. Gary was happy to do it because he cherished his time with Eli.

When COVID-19 hit in the spring of Eli’s 4th grade year, Mr. Gary could no longer drive to see Eli on Tuesdays. Luckily, online mentoring became an option for Eli and Mr. Gary, and since September, they’ve been connecting online every Tuesday, just like they always have.

The last year has been unlike anything Mr. Gary or Eli, or the rest of us, have ever experienced. It took some time to get used to their Tuesday hangouts through a computer, but they’re so glad they gave it a try. Distance and a pandemic looked like a hurdle, too tall to overcome. But online mentoring became an opportunity for Mr. Gary and Eli to connect in a new way, giving them both hope for their friendship now and in the future.

January is National Mentoring Month, and we celebrate the commitment and creativity of Kids Hope USA mentors, like Mr. Gary, who continue to show up even when it’s new, challenging, or unpredictable! We are grateful for the thousands of students and mentors that build life-changing friendships through Kids Hope USA programs across the country.

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Christmas reminds us that gifts come in all shapes and sizes, and the monetary value or usefulness of a gift is far less meaningful than the intent, especially when given by a child.

Chase was a happy kid and he loved spending time with his mentor, Ken. He was open to doing his schoolwork, playing a game, or making a craft, as long as he was doing it with Ken. They’d been meeting each week for three years, and every week, their friendship grew. After Thanksgiving, Chase told Ken that he’d already picked something out for Ken’s Christmas present. Chase was so excited, and Ken was eager to find out what this special gift could be. Chase was counting down the days until he could give his present to Ken – and he told Ken every time they met, “21 days, 14 days, next week!”

The last time they met before Christmas break, Chase was ready. “Close your eyes!” he said, “and hold out your hand.” With closed eyes, Ken held out his hand and waited for the gift to be placed in his palm. Chase softly placed his gift into Ken’s hand: a small stuffed dog. It was clear this was no ordinary stuffed animal! It was one of Chase’s favorite, well-worn and well-loved toys, and he wanted Ken to have it. Deeply touched, Ken recognized that Chase had given him something he truly cared about. 

Later that school year, Chase moved away, and that little stuffed dog became more than just a gift. It was a reminder of the real gift that Ken received that year: a true friendship with a great kid named Chase.

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Jan and Evelyn have walked together on an unexpected journey of friendship for more than 7 years! They met when Evelyn was a 4th grader at Jane Addams Elementary in Palatine, Illinois.  At that time, Evelyn was having a tough year in school and really needed some encouragement.  She was a very quiet girl but each week, Jan showed up and they worked on reading, played games, and talked about things both serious and funny. Both were truly enjoying this new friendship, and like so many at Kids Hope USA, the two of them got to know each other better and their relationship grew.  Their friendship was also supported by Jan’s husband, their prayer partner.   

They met each week all through 4th, 5th and 6th grades and Evelyn’s confidence grew a little bit each year.  She was worried about moving on to junior high, and Jan’s support made a big difference.  Jan recalls that Evelyn was “very glad to know that their Kids Hope USA friendship could continue into 7th grade.”  

 Jan noticed that Evelyn had an interest in science, and she asked Evelyn’s Mom for permission to take Evelyn to an all-day Girls STEM Science Conference in a neighboring town. They went together and it was clear that Evelyn’s interest and confidence in her academic abilities were growing.  Jan always encouraged Evelyn to be brave, try new things, and see herself with a very bright future. Her mom said she really liked seeing Evelyn become happier and more engaged in her activities. 

 Even though their time as an official Kids Hope USA mentoring pair was coming to an end as Evelyn transitioned to high school, Jan made sure Evelyn knew that wasn’t the end of their friendship. They began talking about the transition to high school and even possible careers after graduation. Jan shared a Chinese proverb with Evelyn that says: “Life is like a little bottle of sweet and bitter water. It is very wise to drink the bitter water now while you are young, in order to enjoy sweet water in the future.” She encouraged Evelyn to be willing to tackle hard things now, to reap future rewards. They began talking about Evelyn’s interest in becoming a nurse. Just this year, as Evelyn continues through high school, Jan is helping her apply to a program that will help her become a Certified Nursing Assistant, so she can begin earning money toward college in another year or two.   

The past few years, Jan has helped Evelyn get involved with high school activities including basketball camp and the girl’s lacrosse team, as well as helped her practice for her driver’s test, and apply for her first part-time job. She has also helped Evelyn overcome her social anxiety. Along their journey together, they’ve had many conversations about life and goals for her future.  Evelyn realized how much she has developed. “Over the years, I realized that people can change your life around! Mrs. Liu has helped me grow into a better person. I know I have to work hard, but I’m very EXCITED for my future after college!”

Looking back over seven years of friendship, Jan reflects, “I’ve always tried to help Evelyn see what I see in her; a talented, hardworking and fun-loving young woman. It’s been my pleasure to be her friend and mentor for all these years.  I hope our friendship continues for many more.” 

During a recent conversation Jan told Evelyn that she can’t wait to see her wearing a name tag someday that says R.N. on it for Registered Nurse. Evelyn smiled and said, “I’d like that too.” 

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Jacob & Skylar-Jay became friends three years ago; Skylar-Jay was starting kindergarten and Jacob was leaning into a pull from God to serve as a Kids Hope USA mentor through his church, College Wesleyan. Little did they know that three years later, they would still be great friends!

Skylar-Jay was referred to Kids Hope USA because he simply, “needed a buddy.” Not sure what to expect but willing to give it a shot, Jacob became that buddy. And this summer when Jacob asked Skylar-Jay what having a Kids Hope USA mentor means to him, he said “Having a mentor means making a friend.” An 8-year old boy, understanding with such clarity, that his time with Jacob is something special for both of them. They love to play Connect Four, run around the playground, and just spend time together.

When COVID-19 hit and in-person mentoring ceased, Jacob and Skylar-Jay really missed each other. Jacob reached out to Skylar-Jay’s mom and asked her permission to connect with him. For the rest of the summer and into this fall, Jacob and Skylar-Jay have connected over the phone and spent some much needed time together. Skylar-Jay’s mom saw the importance of Jacob’s mentoring even more than Jacob did. He needed a role model and he needed a friend. “Having a mentor for my son has been the best thing for him. It’s helped him have confidence and know that people other than family can show they care about you.”

In July, Jacob asked Skylar-Jay what he’d like to share about the last three years they’ve spent together. Without missing a beat, Skylar-Jay simply said, “I just want to say, I’ve always liked being with you.”

”Same bud, I’ve enjoyed it a lot.”

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