For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Adrianne Watson
402.390-8326
MEDIA ALERT
The Challenge
The National Mentoring Partnership has identified 15 million youth in need of a mentor. Thousands of these youth live in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas.
In an effort to help close this “mentoring gap” the fourth annual Coaches Challenge Mentor Recruitment Campaign has kicked off between TeamMates Mentoring Program and Kansas Mentors. UNL Athletic Director, Tom Osborne (TeamMates) and Kansas State Football Coach, Bill Snyder (Kansas Mentors) are leading the efforts to see which team can recruit the most new mentors. This year the campaign has expanded to include college coaches and administrators from across Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas who are challenging their communities to volunteer to mentor a youth. Follow the Coaches Challenge score at teammates.org to see which program has recruited the most new mentors.
The Coaches Challenge launched on July 27th at the 2010 TeamMates Annual Partnership Meetings. Over 200 TeamMates Coordinators from across NE & IA and co-founders Tom and Nancy Osborne were in attendance. The winning team will be announced ¬¬¬December 4th, 2010.
The Teams
Kansas Mentors, led by Coach Bill Snyder, is a statewide mentoring initiative whose mission it is to provide every young Kansan access to a caring and quality mentor.
TeamMates, founded by Tom and Nancy Osborne, is a mentoring program whose mission is to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. Mentors meet one hour per week at the school to provide support and encouragement to youth.
Coaches Challenge Supporters:
Trev Alberts University Of Nebraska – Omaha, Athletic Director
Brent Bargen Chadron State College, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Pat Behrns University Of Nebraska – Omaha, Head Football Coach
Lance Creech Hastings College, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Tim Connealy Chadron State College, Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Turner Gill University of Kansas, Head Football Coach
Brian Keller Nebraska Wesleyan University, Head Football Coach
Chris Kranju Hastings College, Head Men’s Soccer Coach
Greg McDermott Creighton University, Head Men's Basketball Coach
Darrell Morris University of Nebraska – Kearney, Athletic Director
Bill O’Boyle Chadron State College, Head Football Coach
Ron Rainey University of Iowa, Head Womens Soccer Coach
Bruce Rasmussen Creighton University, Athletic Director
Rick Squiers University Of Nebraska – Kearney, Head Volleyball Coach
Join the Challenge!
To join the challenge and learn more about mentoring, go to www.teammates.org or call 1-877-531-8326. To check the scoreboard for the Coaches Challenge go to www.teammates.org. Join the Team – Be a Mentor.
