We currently have 124 mentors going through the registration process and 58 approved mentors
who have registered as of February 2012,
for a total of 182 towards our 500 goal!

You will be mentor number 183! Thank-you!

Dear Future icouldbe.org Mentor,

Thank you for your interest in icouldbe.org and in becoming a mentor to young people who need your help and support!

There are a few things that you should know before you begin our registration process.

As mentioned in the mentor recruiting materials, for safety and security reasons there is a $25 charge when registering as an e-mentor. After volunteering for one year, Booz Allen will cover all costs associated with being an e-mentor through icouldbe.org. We hope this one-time charge will not dampen your interest in participating.

1. Our mission is to serve students who are disadvantaged at public schools that are under-resourced. The majority of our mentees attend overcrowded schools that lack sufficient capital and human resources to provide essential college and career guidance services. These students live in low-income communities; they are from the demographic most likely to drop out of school. They need support and guidance as they try to find their way in life. But, it takes time to gather momentum in your communications and to gain their trust. You may find it discouraging that your mentee does not write to you as often as you hoped or about substantive matters. You will be challenged, as an online mentor, to remain both patient and active. Connecting to some of the most difficult students in the educational system requires persistence and is sometimes is not easy. If you are expecting to have an instantly gratifying emotional connection, carefully consider whether or not you would like to proceed with this registration.
2. To ensure the safety of the kids and adults on icouldbe.org, no identifying personal information is exchanged between mentors and mentees in our program. Members of our community do not know each other s last names, places of work, home addresses, myspace identities, chat accounts, gaming identities or anything else that would connect them outside of our community. You will never meet your mentees in person.
3. Mentees often have more than one year-long mentor, so your relationship with the student will not be exclusive. Different volunteer mentors emphasize different things and have different advice. It is important to model cooperative, adult behavior in front of the students.
4. We will run a criminal and sex offender background check on everyone who applies to be an online mentor. As per the rules of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), please click here (opens in a new window) for a copy of "A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act." This document provides detailed explanation of steps to take if you feel your application was erroneously denied.
5. You must be at least 21 years old or a matriculated college student who is at least 18 years old or member of the military who is at least 18 years old to be approved as a mentor.

It is our aspiration to connect an ever-growing number of teenagers to caring adults who can help them through the transition from high school to college and the world of work. The registration process will take roughly twenty minutes.

Beneath this letter you will find a link to continue with the registration process.

We hope you will join us to share your experience and expertise with hard working students from around the country. Thanks so much for you interest and feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Kate Schrauth
Executive Director
www.icouldbe.org
kate@icouldbe.org