There are many worthy organizations in our local community supporting young people.  One of those groups is the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI).

The big fund-raising event for YMI is the annual Mayor’s Breakfast.  The coronavirus pandemic forced the event to go virtual in 2020.  As of Thursday night, over $32,600 had been raised.

Below is a city news release with more on this year’s event:

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Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI) hosted its annual Mayor’s Breakfast virtually on Thursday, October 8 at 8:00 a.m. YMI’s largest annual fundraiser, hosted by Mayor Scott Fadness and YMI Executive Director Alison Gatz, featured former Indianapolis Colts player Joe Reitz; Brooke Lawson, HSE Schools Mental Health and School Counseling Coordinator; YMI mentors and mentees; and others as they share the impact mentoring can have on students. The Breakfast raises funds to help provide school-based mentoring services to more than 300 students.

“This year, it’s more important than ever that we support our mentees through mentorship,” remarked Gatz. “We’ve pivoted our model to provide safe virtual visits with the mentors, mentees, and YMI staff and we know this has helped many of our kids get through the challenges of virtual learning, isolation, and quarantine. But we have more work to do – which will all be made possible by the generosity of our donors and our mentors.”

Supporters are encouraged to visit givebutter.com/ymibreakfast for playback of the virtual Breakfast and donate in support of mentorship.

Gatz also honored longtime Board member, Steven Orusa, who stepped down in his role as President of the YMI Board of Directors Orusa, an eight-year board member, served as president since late 2019 and led the organization through exponential growth as the organization increased donations and mentor programming. The YMI Board of Directors has elected Joe Eaton, as Orusa’s successor, longtime community supporter and Board Member since 2019.

“It’s an honor to serve the Fishers community through the impact of mentorship,” said Eaton. “This is the year where so many have experienced challenges and the more than 300 mentees currently served by YMI are no different. Our goal with this event is to fully fund the training, recruitment, and matching of our community mentors with student mentees.”

A special thanks to the generous corporate sponsors and donors who have already committed to supporting the Mayor’s Breakfast for YMI:

Difference Maker – $5000 – RQAW

 

World Changer – $2500 – Boomerang Development

Bridge Builder – $1000

Todd and Denise Huston

Indy Floor Coating

Crew Carwash

Fairway Mortgage

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Ed Martin Automotive Group

Paragon Realty

Aspire Health Indiana

Stifel

First Internet Bank

Lake City Bank

A&F Engineering

Meyer Najem

Gradison Design Build

Delta Faucet

PVA Wealth Advisors

 

Additional Sponsors

Brosmer Photography – In Kind

Compass Pointe CPAs – In Kind

CSO Architects -$500

Hub & Spoke – $500

Auri’s Ideas – $500

Cooke Financial Group – $250

Context Design – $500

Sadler Orthodontics