Why We Celebrate Mentors

By Fairport Wealth

Helping Today’s Youth Believe They Can

Mentors change lives. That’s why Harvard’s Center for Health Communication designated January as National Mentoring Month, a yearly campaign to raise awareness of the positive effects of mentoring and encourage people to become a mentor.

Why mentor?
Giving a little of your time can make a big impact, as demonstrated by a landmark study which showed that young people were 46% less likely to use drugs, 53% less likely to skip school, felt more competent in their abilities and about the future and had more positive relationships when mentored.¹ Another report showed that at risk students were 55% more likely to enroll in college when mentored.² Mentors provide guidance and encouragement that fosters success.

Do you have what it takes to #MentorIRL?
Mentors are positive role models who help young people gain self-confidence and achieve their goals. If you are interested in mentoring, some local organizations that provide volunteer opportunities include:

• First Tee of Cleveland – teaches life lessons and leadership through golf.

• College Now, Greater Cleveland – improves graduation rates for many kids, especially those who face the challenge of being the first in their families to attend college.

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland (the first to include girls) – helps children in need achieve academic success, live a healthier lifestyle and develop character.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland – establishes mentoring friendships to help young people achieve their potential.

• Merrick House (our 2019 Community Beacon) – offers a variety of youth programs to help keep at risk kids safe, grow up to achieve their goals and become community leaders.

How does Luma Wealth mentor?
We’re tackling two of our goals, empowering girls and training the next generation of wealth advisors, through the Luma Internship and Scholarship (LIS) program. In partnership with Laurel School, a nationally recognized private school for girls founded in 1896, the LIS offers selected students a two year internship that provides exposure to a range of wealth management activities, such as financial planning, marketing and operations, with a financial stipend and scholarship toward tuition. Heather Ettinger, Luma Wealth founder and former Laurel School student, launched the program last year, on International Women’s Day. In addition to the LIS, many of our team members volunteer their time at local non-profit organizations, to help inspire others to succeed. Learn more about our first intern.

Clients have told us they enjoy giving back. Whether you choose to mentor, volunteer in other ways or support causes financially, Luma Wealth is here to help. Talk to your advisor about creating a strategy for philanthropic giving or follow us on social media to learn more about ways to give.

¹Harvard Mentoring Project, Center for Health Communication, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/harvard-mentoring-project/

²Who Mentored You, National Mentoring Month, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, December 2019 https://sites.sph.harvard.edu/wmy/national-mentoring-month/