Mid Valley Mentors; Connect. Engage. Inspire. Be a mentor » MVM News

JEM Case Manager Thanks Her Mentor!

khaglund — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:31:10 +0000

Grandmas are the best! Has someone mentored you and you’d like to give them a public shout out on our website or Facebook page? Email you submission to Katie@midvalleymentors.org

Thank Your Mentor Video Series – #1 Posted!

khaglund — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:58:01 +0000

January is National Mentoring Month! We’ll be featuring “Thank Your Mentor” videos all month long. If you have a past or present mentor you’d like to thank on our website and through social media, send it to us at Katie@midvalleymentors.org and we’ll get it posted!

Remember, a mentor could be a family member, coach, teacher, friend, colleague, etc. Don’t let the title confuse you. We’ve all had a mentor at different points in our life who inspired us to be better through their words and actions. =) Check out our first video featuring our very own Ivan Gutierrez!

Join the Brilliant Rubbish Planning Committee

Scott — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:30:49 +0000

Mid Valley Mentors seeks enthusiastic community members to join our Brilliant Rubbish Committee. Our annual event features a social hour, local wine and beer, catered meal, music, silent & live auctions, and other fundraising activities. Committee members support event success through planning, promotion, auction item and sponsorship procurement, décor and much more. If interested, contact Scott Humpert at (503) 584-4874, scott@midvalleymentors.org.

MVM Releases First Real Men Mentor Video!

khaglund — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:23:52 +0000

7 in 10 kids needing a mentor are BOYS!

2 in 10 mentors are MEN!

Help us put the Men back in MENTOR!

Sign up NOW!

2011 Run/Walk for Mentors A Smashing Success

Sarah — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:20:28 +0000

On Saturday August 13^th, 2011 Mid Valley Mentors’ hosted the 2011 Run/Walk for Mentors at Salem’s Minto Brown Park. Thanks the generous support of presenting sponsor Wells Fargo, platinum sponsors Creekside Counseling and Salem Hospital and community supporters Gallagher Fitness Resources, LifeSource Natural Foods, NW Natural, Portland General Electric, and Print Specialties the event raised nearly $6,000 to support mentoring for youth in the Salem-Keizer area.

The second annual event was coordinated by Race Northwest and featured a 5k and 10k course. Over 80 individuals young and old, first time to well-seasoned runners, ran, walked, trotted and strolled their way across the finish line, some with 4-legged friends.

With the enthusiasm and hard work of 32 volunteers and perfectly cool temperatures the event ran smooth from beginning to end with fun for everyone involved.

Timing results are posted online and pictures can be found on Twitter and on Facebook. We look forward to great things again next year.

For questions about the race or information on running or sponsoring, contact julie@midvalleymentors.org

2011 5K/10K Run/Walk

jbrown — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:10:24 +0000

Let the race begin! Registration for the 2011 5K/10K is Open!

Brilliant Rubbish 2011 Raised over $17,000!

suzanne — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:23:55 +0000

Mid Valley Mentors would like to the thank our sponsors, volunteers, donors, artists, committee and 220 attendees who helped make Brilliant Rubbish 2011 our most successful fundraiser to date! With the hundreds of donations from local businesses and artists and generous sponsorships we were able to raise over $17,000 to support our mentoring programs for children and adults affected by incarceration.

Click Here to See all the Brilliant Rubbish Pictures

THANK YOU!

Sponsors:
Presenting:	US Bank	Gold:	Portland General Electric
Silver:	Comcast Les Schwab Tires NW Natural Salem Electric	Bronze:	Bliss Sequoia Insurance Covanta Energy Corporation Dave’s Killer Bread Kuebler Learning Centers Rural/Metro Ambulance The Lulay Group

Artist Donors
Alexis Young	Elliot Allen	Maggie Sather
Ann Krier	Helen Krier	Marie Bradford
Bethany Reeves	JoAnn Leadingham	Melinda Korshet
Brian Bliss	Jody Bartruff	Rachel Kite
Carol Zwicker	John Ryan	Ramona Munford
Carolyn Bolton	Judi McCubbins	Rhonda Stitz
Cathy Effman	Julie Gogol	Santiam Correctional Institution
David Drown	Julie Hardin	Sharon Steiner
Deanna White	Kassia Riggs	Shawn Wood
Deirdra Doan	Kev Kohler	Susan Thompson
Dorothy Woodbury		Suzanne Jorgensen

In-Kind Donors
A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village	Indigo Wellness Center	Oregon State University
Arcane Cellars	Inn at Spanish Head	Pentacle Theatre
Bethel Heights Vineyards	Illahe Golf Club	Peitro’s Pizza
Cross Creek Golf Club	Kim Buckner	Portland Trailblazers
Cubanisimo Vineyards	Marion County Fair	Pup in a Tub
Dave’s Killer Bread	Massage Envy	Simply Blissed Body & Sole
Elsinore Framing & Fine Art Gallery	McMenamin’s	South Salem Pet Supply
Enchanted Forrest	Mayor Anna Peterson	War Paint International
Eola Hills Vineyards	Nature’s Pet Market	The Wild Pear
Five Guys	NCM Cinema Network	Willamette Valley Vineyards
Gallagher Fitness Resources	Northern Lights Theatre Pub	Wilsonville Family Fun Center
Gamberetti’s	Orchard Heights Winery
Graham Aviation Services

Inmates and their Families Contribute Art to Mid Valley Mentors Fundraiser

suzanne — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:08:55 +0000

Santiam Correctional Institution made in-prison family art event possible, creations contributed to Brilliant Rubbish Fundraiser auction on April 8^th.

Salem, OR – March 28, 2011 – On Saturday evening March 26^th, 4 inmates, their collective 16 children and 5 caregivers participated in a family art night at Santiam Correctional Institution (SCI). SCI and Department of Corrections (DOC) staff worked with Mid Valley Mentors over the past several months to make this unique event possible.

Mid Valley Mentors hosts an annual fundraiser to support its free mentoring programs that serve children and adults affected by incarceration. This fundraiser, titled “Brilliant Rubbish” features art made from recycled materials among other items in their auction. “Engaging inmates and their families in the creation of art allowed us to give them an opportunity to spend quality time together. Maintaining relationships with parents during incarceration is important for healthy parent-child relationships after release from prison,” explained Suzanne Jorgensen, Communications Director at Mid Valley Mentors. “The art they produced also gives us a platform to share our mission with the community, by sharing this experience with our supporters; we can easily illustrate the essence of our mission.”

“We were happy to collaborate with Mid Valley Mentors on this effort,” Sam Villagomez, Transition Services Manager at Santiam Correctional Institution, “we believe in Mid Valley Mentors’ mission and thought it was a win-win opportunity to engage with a local nonprofit while giving our inmates an opportunity to connect with their children.”

The art projects included 2 large mosaic posters with recycled objects attached to the surface, collage picture frames, painted vases, pen and pencil holders made from tin cans and fabric remnants, and a salvaged magazine holder with a multi-colored decoupage.

The children ranged in age from 4 to 17 years old and were accompanied by their mothers and grandmothers. SCI staff assisted with the art creation and supervised the visit. Mid Valley Mentors staff Suzanne Jorgensen and Katie Haglund planned and facilitated the art projects.

Brilliant Rubbish Fundraiser Details:
Friday April 8, 2011 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Mission Mill Museum, The Spinning Room
Tickets available online at: http://midvalleymentors.org/brilliantrubbish Or Call: 503-584-4865
Special Guests Include: Dave Sweeney (master of ceremonies), Dave Dahl of Dave’s Killer Bread (guest speaker), Singer Song-writer Mark Seymour (musical entertainment)

Presenting Sponsor: US Bank Gold Sponsor: Portland General Electric
Silver Sponsors: Comcast, Les Schwab Tires, NW Natural, Salem Electric
Bronze Sponsors: Covanta Energy Corporation, Kuebler Learning Center, Rural Metro Ambulance,
The Lulay Group

About Mid Valley Mentors

Mid Valley Mentors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that has provided mentoring services to Marion and Polk counties since 2004. Mid Valley Mentors recruits, trains and matches volunteer mentors with youth affected by incarceration through its Juvenile Enrichment through Mentoring program and formerly incarcerated adults through its Reentry Solutions Program as part of the Marion County Reentry Initiative. Mid Valley Mentors is dedicated to engaging system-involved individuals in programs that educate, motivate and empower participants to create a positive life for themselves.

For more information, please visit www.MidValleyMentors.org.

Mid Valley Mentors Media Contact:
Suzanne Jorgensen Suzanne@midvalleymentors.org 503-584-4827

Santiam Correctional Institution Media Contact:
Susi Hodgin Susi.A.Hodgin@DOC.State.OR.US 503-378-5558 x259

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Recycled Art on auction at Brilliant Rubbish

suzanne — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:42:16 +0000

Here are just a few examples of some of the dozens of brilliant rubbish art pieces featured in our 2011 Brilliant Rubbish fundraiser auction! Do you have your tickets yet? Purchase your tickets online today, only $30 or one or $50 for two. Click here to get them now!


“Key To My Heart Lamp” by Deirdra Doan	“Grape Motif Table” by Susan Thompson

“Button Purse with Computer Accents” by Susan Thompson	“Cigar Box Purse” by Susan Thompson

Computer Cooler Business Card Holders by Susan Thompson	Cork-Chalk Board and Mail-Key Holder Made from a wooden palette by Suzanne Jorgensen

Collage with Recyclables by Jody Bartruff	Collage with Recyclables by Jody Bartruff

April 8 Fundraiser for Mentoring Features Recycled Art

suzanne — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:39:06 +0000

Mid Valley Mentors hosts “Brilliant Rubbish” Fundraiser also features
local wine & microbrew tasting, dinner live music and special guest Dave Dahl.

Salem, OR – March 10, 2011 – Mid Valley Mentors, a nonprofit agency providing mentor services based in Salem, OR, announces its 4^th annual Brilliant Rubbish fundraiser. Each year Mid Valley Mentors encourages the Salem-Keizer community to create inventive art pieces from materials that may have been considered “trash.” At the fundraiser Dave Dahl, owner of Dave’s Killer Bread, will share his inspiring story about overcoming obstacles and how he turned his life around after several years of incarceration. The evening will feature dinner and wine tasting by local vineyards Eola Hills Wine Cellars and Orchard Heights Winery. Back by popular demand will be microbrew tasting with The Ram and other breweries to be announced. Musical entertainment will be provided by local singer-songwriter Mark Seymour.

This year will feature art created by mentors and their mentees as well as by incarcerated fathers and their children. On March 26^th Mid Valley Mentors will host a family art creation event at Santiam Correctional Institution to provide an opportunity for children with incarcerated parents to visit their fathers in the institution and create something for the auction together.

“This year we’ve really pulled out all the stops to try and take the 4^th Annual Fundraiser to the next level,” explains Sarah Spinks, Executive Director of Mid Valley Mentors, “in an effort to replace diminishing grant funds and support continued operation of our mentor programs serving Marion and Polk counties. The success of this fundraiser plays a critical role in helping us meet. The event has a casual atmosphere and is a lot of fun, we are looking forward to drawing in a big crowd to help make the night a success!”

Brilliant Rubbish Fundraiser Details:
Friday April 8, 2011 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Mission Mill Museum, The Spinning Room
Tickets available online at: http://midvalleymentors.org/brilliantrubbish Or Call: 503-584-4865

Presenting Sponsor: US Bank Gold Sponsor: PGE
Silver Sponsors: Salem Electric, Les Schwab Tires, NW Natural
Bronze Sponsors: Covanta Energy Corporation, Rural Metro Ambulance, Kuebler Learning Center,
The Lulay Group

Mid Valley Mentors hopes to engage members of the community to create a piece of recycled art for their Brilliant Rubbish fundraiser auction under the guidance of local artists and using local studio facilities. Mid Valley Mentors will provide the tools, the ideas and the artists to assist you in discovering your creative side, perhaps for the first time, while creating something beautiful that will help raise funds for Mid Valley Mentors community-driven mentoring programs in Marion and Polk counties.

About Mid Valley Mentors
Mid Valley Mentors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that has provided mentoring services to Marion and Polk counties since 2004. Mid Valley Mentors recruits, trains and matches volunteer mentors with youth affected by incarceration through its Juvenile Enrichment through Mentoring program and formerly incarcerated adults through its Reentry Solutions Program as part of the Marion County Reentry Initiative. Mid Valley Mentors is dedicated to engaging system-involved individuals in programs that educate, motivate and empower participants to create a positive life for themselves.
For more information, please visit www.MidValleyMentors.org.