KIDS HOPE USA, partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Knoxville, strives to develop a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult and special child at Beaumont Elementary. Our mentors spend one hour each week reading, talking, playing and listening to a child at school. By showing the child love they help that child to learn, grow and succeed.

One of our dedicated mentors, Andrea, has been involved in the mentor program at Beaumont Elementary for 2 years. Here is what she had to say about her time with her “little”, Endia.

“When I first started with Endia she was a little reserved, so we got to know each other by visiting all the different areas of the building.  We practiced dancing in the dance studio, did research in the library, made a “ping pong table” in an empty classroom, painted each others fingernails on the porch, and she tried to teach me to hula hoop in the gym.

We took pictures in each of these locations, and at the end of the year I made her a photo album of our year.  She still has it.  I wondered this year, because she is in the 5th grade if she would feel too grown to have a mentor.  When I asked her if our Thursday time period was going to work well for her this year she said “Yes, but I wish you could come every day”.”

This is just one of the many stories of life change from the KIDS HOPE USA program. It is our goal to help support these children through a critical time in their lives when values are formed, self-esteem is developed and problem-solving skills are acquired. We believe that through the KIDS HOPE USA mentoring process this one relationship can make a difference in the life of a child … and that’s no small change