FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2005
CONTACT: Sarah Williams, (850) 245-2112

Governor's Mentoring Initiative Bringing Results for Florida's Students

--Department of Environmental Protection supports state’s mentoring pledge--

TALLAHASSEE – Five years after Governor Jeb Bush launched Florida’s mentoring initiative, more than 6,000 state employees are mentoring Florida’s children. Five percent of all state agency employees are now mentoring through the program established by the Volunteer Florida Foundation. More than 170 Department of Environmental Protection employees have committed to mentoring this year alone, working with students at local schools and nonprofit organizations throughout the state.

“Thanks to the efforts of state agency employees, children statewide are receiving the extra help they need to succeed,” said Governor Bush. “By continuing to stress the importance of mentoring, I hope more Floridians will be encouraged to volunteer their time to mentor children and support mentoring organizations in their local communities.”

Launched in 1999, the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative helps students excel both in school and in life by recruiting Floridians to become mentors. The program promotes cooperation among state agencies, municipalities, businesses, nonprofit groups, individuals and schools. Governor Bush set a goal of recruiting 10 percent of each state agency’s employees to become mentors. The goal is supported by an administrative rule passed by the Florida Cabinet in 1999, providing state employees with up to five hours of administrative leave each month to mentor.

“Reaching out to children through mentoring prepares them for a better and brighter future,” said DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “Mentoring equips today’s students with the tools they need to succeed — reading, writing and interest in learning.”

In addition to mentoring Florida’s students, DEP is providing hands-on science education through the Learning in Florida’s Environment Program (LIFE) program. LIFE combines the agency’s scientific, research and conservation expertise with the needs of Florida’s teachers, students and schools. To foster interest in research, technology and environmental science, students visit Florida’s parks and preserves for field laboratories on water, soil and plant life. Focusing on underserved audiences, the program integrates science, geography, reading, writing and math by connecting field experiences with pre- and post- classroom lessons.

In 2004, there were 186,000 mentors across Florida, a 38 percent increase over the previous year. The latest study by the National Mentoring Partnership shows that today 10 percent of all mentoring programs throughout the country are in Florida. Under the Governor’s leadership, Florida donates $12.5 million annually for mentoring program development and training. Those funds are leveraged with corporate donations of time, materials and financial contributions.