Mentor Duluth April News
Match of the Month
April's Match of the Month is Addison and his mentor Donna Nordstrom. The following is a letter written by Addison's mother:
"Addison and his mentor Donna Nordstrom have been matched going on six years now. Donna has not only been a wonderful mentor for my son, she has also been a great friend. She has gone way above and beyond the expectations of being a mentor. Addison has been able to do a lot of great things with Donna and also with her family at times. They have done anything from going to activities, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, boating and movies! There are so many other things- six year's worth of stuff is way too much to mention. But, you can only imagine. She has given my son opportunities I have been unable to give him, and for that, I am grateful to her and her husband.
Donna is the best thing that has walked into my son's life. I don't know how to express my gratitude to her for always being there for my son. Words cannot express the amount of appreciation I have for Donna (and her husband) for all they have done in six years. Donna deserves it all. I feel the friendship her and Addison share will be a life long, lasting one. For that, I'm grateful to you Mentor Duluth, for allowing them to become a match when she approached you six years ago to become Addison's mentor, after she had him in her 3rd grade class. She was a wonderful teacher for him then, and become a life long friend for him since."
-Paige-
Congratulations to Addison and Donna!
Tax Deductions for Volunteers
Income taxes are due soon. Did you know that mentors can take tax deductions for their efforts? Mentors can deduct 14 cents per mile for driving their mentees to and from activities, and may be able to deduct additional expenses. Information on volunteer tax deductions can be found at the IRS website, www.irs.gov under Publication 526, "Charitable Contributions."
Free Community Activities
UMD Alworth Planetarium
The UMD Planetarium has public showings every Wednesday night from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Check for a list of weekly showings at www.umdstars.org or call (218) 726-7129. On April 26th they will be celebrating National Astronomy Day with shows and interactive workshops for youth of all ages.
Take Back the Night
- DATE:
- Thursday, April 24
- TIME:
- 5:50 p.m. - Pre-March
- 8:00 p.m. - March
- WHERE:
- Washington Center located at 310 No. 1st Avenue West
Hartley Nature Center
Hartley Nature Center will be hosting a Youth Outdoor Expo on Saturday, May 3rd. Youth will rotate through various nature stations, eat lunch, and win cool prizes. Registration for each child/adult is required. For more info visit their website at www.hartleynature.org or call (218) 724-6735.
Earth Day at the Lake Superior Zoo
- When:
- Friday, April 18th
- Time:
- 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
The zoo's Earth Day event will be held on Friday April 18th and will offer two educational opportunities for young people and organized groups to creatively share their ideas, make a statement and offer solutions:
- Earth Day Environmental & Zoological Science Fair (open to individuals and small groups of up to 3 people grades K-12 or equivalent)
- Earth Day Garbage Sculpture Contest (open to classrooms, scout troops, etc. in grades K-12 or equivalent)
Everyone (including groups that do not enter a project) should plan to attend and experience student's creative Earth Day projects!
All Earth Day entries will be on display at the zoo from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on April 18th, with judging and awards happening between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Other Earth Day activities include: crafts (build a worm tower or grass catepillar), games, (Web of Life or Species Charades), and special programs on hawk migration, recycling and tree seed give-away.
For more information on Earth Day visit their website at www.lszoo.org
Mentor Duluth Activities
Call 722-4745 Ext. 120 to sign up for activities.
PAL Activity
National Global Youth Service Day
- DATE:
- Saturday, April 26
- TIME:
- 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- LOCATION:
- YMCA and Bayshore Health Center
- COST:
- FREE
- NOTES:
- 10 youth will help make a difference in their community by making "I Care Kits" and door hangers for a Bayshore Health Center resident they have chosen from a mini-autobiography. They will deliver the kits in person and spend time playing games at the facility. This service-learning project will help kids reflect on their project by interviewing each other about what they learned of the residents and some history about Duluth.
Call the Mentor Duluth office at 722-4745 ext. 120 to sign up.
Match Activity
Omnimax Theater Presents: "Grand CAnyonnyon Adventuredventure: "River atat risk"
- DATE:
- Thursday, April 17
- TIME:
- 6:00 -7:30 p.m.
- LOCATION:
- Duluth Omnimax Theatre
- COST:
- Free for youth, $5.00 Mentors
Join us for for an evening of fun and adventure at the Omnimax Theater! This film combines exhilarating river-rafting action and family fun to tell an engaging story of how ordinary people can make a difference for our parched planet!
Call 722-4745 ext. 120 to sign up.
Mentors: Pay by cash or check that is made out to Mentor Duluth.
For Everyone
Healthy Kids Day
- DATE:
- Saturday, April 5
- TIME:
- 1:00-4:00 p.m.
- LOCATION:
- Duluth YMCA
- COST:
- FREE (open to the whole community)
- THIS YEAR'S THEME:
- OLYMPICS!!!
- NOTES:
- Activities will include: Sports and fitness challenges, arts and crafts, exotic food tasting, gymnastics, tae kwon do and Special Olympic demonstrations. Kids can get photos and autographs from Duluth athletes who have competed in the Olympics. This is a once in a liftime experience!
For more information contact 722-4745 ext. 144
Shrine Circus Tickets
- DATES:
- Thursday, April 10th Friday, April 11th
- TIME:
- 7:00 p.m.
- LOCATION:
- DECC
- COST:
- Free to the first 50 matches
- NOTES:
- Mentors and mentees are invited to experience the excitement of the Shrine Circus. Thanks again to the Shriners for their generous on-going support to Mentor Duluth.
For more information or to sign up for tickets call the Mentor Duluth office at 722-4745 ext. 120.