Greetings to all. In a previous issue of the Insider I asked Hendricken alumni to consider how they might use their Time, Talent, and Treasure to give back to a school that has given us so much. In this issue, I’d like to outline a new initiative of the Hendricken Alumni Board designed to leverage the considerable gifts of our alumni base for the direct benefit of Hendricken students. We’ve labeled it the Hendricken Alumni Mentor Program.
The Program is modeled after the traditional Big Brothers program. In our model, volunteer alumni agree to serve as an additional element of support for a student who might benefit from a supportive relationship with an adult male who attended Hendricken. Alumni mentors seek to enhance the Hendricken experience for their ‘mentee’, and provide guidance, support, and friendship through regular communication. Mentors have agreed to be in contact with their student at least once per week, attend extra-curricular events in which the student participates, and simply be involved in a positive way in a young man’s life throughout his four years at Hendricken.
Thus far, the response from our alumni has been truly heartening as guys have, once again, stepped up to answer the call. Going forward, we anticipate a need for many additional alumni mentors as the program catches on. During the last few months I have had the opportunity to speak with many Hendricken alums who, to paraphrase, have expressed a remarkably consistent theme: “If not for Hendricken I don’t know where I’d be.” Our Alumni Mentor Program provides a fantastic opportunity to give back, get reconnected with the school, and enhance the Hendricken experience for a young man. For more information or if you’d like to get involved, please contact me or Jamal Gomes jgomes@hendricken.com at BHHS. Thank you for your support of Bishop Hendricken, and I hope you and your families are well.
Sincerely,
Tom Harkins ‘76
Derry, NH
Tomhark2002@yahoo.com