January is National Mentoring Month. It was established in 2002 to celebrate mentoring and the positive impacts that mentoring can have on youth. The theme of 2013 National Mentoring Month is "Mentoring Works!". The goals are to:

1. Raise awareness of mentoring and its various forms.
2. Recruit individuals to mentor, especially in programs that have waiting lists of young people.
3. Promote the rapid growth of mentoring by recruiting organizations to engage their constituents in mentoring.

The Southern Arizona Mentoring Coalition (SAMC) in partnership with Pima Community College West Campus is hosting a Celebration to honor Southern Arizona mentors and youth mentoring programs. Come join us and learn about mentoring opportunities, options, and impacts in Southern Arizona. There will be over 10 local mentoring organizations available to answer any questions you may have about being a mentor, becoming a mentor or getting a mentor. If your company, church or school would like to start a mentoring program or enhance a current mentoring program, there will be subject matter experts available to sign you up for evidenced based training or assist you with program development.

We also encourage individuals and organizations interested in supporting youth mentoring programs to come and learn how you can help in ways other than being a mentor (e.g. financial support, logistical support, technical support, program support, serving on a board, etc.).

Members of the Southern Arizona Mentoring Coalition include Kids Animals Life and Dreams (KALD), Mentorkids USA Tucson, One on One Mentors, United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Goodwill, Pima Prevention Partnership, Community Renewal, Desert Men's Council, Alcumus Institute, Oasis Family Life Center, In My Shoes, Have Some Fun, Next Generation Mentors, The Partnership, Reflections of Me, Knights of Pythagoras, TUSD,Team Tucson, Boys to Men Bridge Builders Foundation, Pima County Juvenile Court, Mentoring Brothers of Arizona and many more.