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When Oracle employee Rob Inouye reflects on the major events of his life, he ranks being a mentor with Friends for Youth right up there. "It's easily one of my top five life-changing experiences," says the IT senior consultant from San Francisco. "I got a lot out of it. More so than I ever thought I would."
Founded in 1979, Friends for Youth is an award-winning mentoring program based in Redwood City, California. The organization serves at-risk children by pairing them with adult mentors. Since its inception, Friends for Youth has matched more than 1,600 children with safe, caring adults and has achieved an 88 percent success rate at creating long-term mentoring relationships—a percentage significantly above the nationwide norm for similar programs.
"The kids in the program have had people in and out of their lives," explains Becky Cooper, Executive Director, Friends for Youth. "There's not a lot of continuity. Just by virtue of building a relationship with a supportive adult, I've seen the kids accomplish some incredible things in their lives."
Oracle has supported Friends for Youth since 1990, contributing funds to support program development for their mentoring services, life skills workshops, after-school workshops, and academic enrichment programs. In addition to funding, Oracle hosts activities for children waiting to be matched with a mentor. The activities, which have included bowling, ice skating, picnics, and attending a San Francisco Giants game, encourage the children to stay involved in the program while they are waiting for a mentor and introduce Oracle employees to the Friends for Youth program. Oracle has also hosted the organization's Annual Mentoring Conference at the Oracle Conference Center for the past two years.
One Person Can Make a Difference
Inouye had just graduated from University of California, Berkeley and was starting his first job when he met his first Junior Friend in 1989. "I remember when we first met," he says, "I had a suit on and he was a bit apprehensive of me because of that." The awkwardness quickly faded and the two went on to forge a friendship that has lasted to this day.
Over the years, Inouye was a consistent presence in the boy's life, offering encouragement and friendship. "He told me that if we didn't get matched up, he would have been in a gang," says Inouye. "I watched him remove himself from all the tougher aspects in his life that could easily swallow him up in a second."
"Knowing where he was and what he's gone through, it's been very rewarding to see that now he's a positive person, contributing to society in a good way," he adds. In fact, Inouye's former mentee occasionally lends a hand at Friends for Youth volunteer recruitment events, sponsored by Oracle.
Inouye continued to volunteer at Friends for Youth, acting as a caseworker and a volunteer coordinator. In 2006 he was asked to serve on the Board of Directors, and this year he was tapped to be the Chair. In addition to his Board duties, he has also recently begun mentoring another boy.
"Rob's an incredible volunteer," comments Cooper. "He's unflappable, easygoing—the epitome of the perfect mentor. Now, he brings to the Board a unique perspective of having been a mentor, as well as having worked closely with the staff. We are absolutely thrilled."
"The activities are key," says Cooper. "They give the kids a way to be connected with our organization while they wait to get a mentor. That was a huge need that Oracle filled. The impact of Oracle on Friends for Youth is immeasurable."
"By bringing positive role models into the lives of at-risk children, Friends for Youth has made a life-changing difference in the future of hundreds of local kids," says Rosalie Gann, Director of Oracle Giving and Volunteers. "Oracle is proud to be a part of the Friends for Youth family, both through our donations and through the dedication and commitment Oracle employee volunteers such as Rob Inouye."
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