college mentors for kids' iu chapter forms partnerships and impacts community

In 1995, two Indiana University students founded College Mentors for Kids, and in 1996, started the Mentor Program at Indiana University and Butler University.

For the past 15 years, College Mentors for Kids’ Indiana University chapter has continued to serve as valuable partner to the Bloomington community, and is now serving 100 kids at three elementary and middle schools in Monroe County, Indiana.

Lexi Seeger, Indiana University chapter president and a senior Nonprofit Management major, is working to advance partnerships with the University to make an even stronger impact on the community. Seeger’s efforts have led to a semester-long class project with her fellow students, along with guidance from her professor, to plan a spring fundraiser for the chapter, including public relations and marketing initiatives and event planning.

“I’m really excited to get outside help. Our fundraising efforts have always been a little tough because so many other great organizations hold fundraisers in the spring,” Seeger noted. “This will really help make our event successful, and I’m looking forward to getting an outside perspective and business view on it as well.”

The chapter has also held successful fundraisers this past fall, including a friends and family letter writing campaign and various other fundraising activities raising $8,000 to support weekly activities, supplies, and transportation of the kids to and from campus.

Seeger is excited to see the various initiatives spearheaded by the entire chapter, such as direct service through mentoring, service through fundraising, and community awareness campaigns that build on classroom learning becoming successful.

“So far, this year’s fundraising has been very successful,” Seeger said. “This is one of our most successful letter drives, and every time I check the mail it’s fun to see the checks pouring in. Corporations have sent us money and are helping out in other ways, too. hhgregg is even offering to donate cameras or appliances to help with our program. It’s great getting the outside community involved!”

The children in the IU mentor program were able to get involved, too. They drew pictures and wrote letters to include with the letters that their mentors sent.

“When they are doing the letter drive, all of the kids were drawing pictures about playing with their mentors,” Seeger said. “They were so excited about College Mentors even through it was a few weeks into the program. Seeing their excitement alone makes this whole experience worthwhile.”

IU’s chapter has also extended programming to include a middle school partner this year, extending the benefits of mentoring relationships.

Erin Murphy, associate program director at College Mentors, is impressed with the progress Seeger and IU’s chapter is making.

“I visited IU a week ago to talk with the president and the middle school GM about some activity ideas for this semester,” Murphy said. “They came up with such great ideas, and I can’t wait to see how this program flourishes and develops this semester and into the future.”