The bays of Topgolf buzzed with laughter and cheers this October, as mentoring supporters and students took part in the second annual Topgolf Challenge. Mentors and mentees from four youth mentoring programs — EAC Network, Mentors on the Move 4Life, Friends of the Children New York, and Northport High School — showed off their skills alongside team members from the event’s corporate sponsors.
The day was a collective effort to elevate mentorship, raise critical funds, and celebrate MENTOR New York's 30th anniversary, all while giving young people an unforgettable day on the driving range. For Christina Vincent, interim Program Director at Friends of the Children New York, the event provided a valuable opportunity for mentees to broaden their experiences and explore their potential.
"It’s great to increase their level of awareness and attainability," Christina explained. "One of these children in our program, they may want to be a pro golfer in their career, so it’s great to get people out here and give them exposure to new people [and] new things.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Tyrone Gardner, CEO of Mentors on the Move 4Life, who described the challenge as a chance to "give the kids the opportunity to believe they can be anybody who they want to be." Tyrone is currently collaborating with MENTOR New York's Erica Friedman Coburn to enhance their program's services. Check out the video to hear from the incredible program staff and young people who helped make the event a hit.
Celebrating 30 Years of Impact
In addition to golfing for a good cause, Topgolf Challenge was a chance to celebrate MENTOR New York’s three decades of service within the Long Island community. During this time, it's fostered initiatives such as the Baldwin School District Mentoring Program, L.I.K.E. Mentoring Program, and Dodd Middle School's Mentoring Program, which collectively touch the lives of hundreds of students. Today, the organization supports a statewide network of 1,300 mentoring programs and counting — including the four that attended Topgolf — benefiting over 80,000 young people.
Head over to Facebook to see more pictures from the event.
Corporate Champions of Mentorship
Topgolf Challenge wouldn't be possible without the generosity of local sponsors who believe in the transformative power of mentoring. Presenting sponsor Bethpage Federal Credit Union led the charge with Rivkin Radler LLP; Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP; PSEG Long Island; and Donnelly Building LLC.
Speaking at the event, MENTOR New York CEO Brenda Jimenez underscored the critical role of corporate investment in the mentoring movement, emphasizing that young people represent the future clients and workforce of today's businesses. Her thoughts were shared by Linda Armyn, President and CEO of Bethpage FCU, who highlighted her organization’s commitment to enriching the lives of Long Islanders through mentorship.
“We support MENTOR New York to help ensure more mentoring opportunities are available for young people in our community, allowing them to tap into their greatest potential,” Armyn said.
At Rivkin Radler LLP, mentoring is deeply ingrained in the organization's culture and mission, said Matthew Spero, Partner at the firm and Chair of MENTOR New York's Board.
“Supporting MENTOR New York is an extension of that vision and taps into how we invest in our local community,” Spero said. “MENTOR New York’s Topgolf Challenge offered an opportunity to bring our team together while continuing our investment in the Long Island community and its young people.”
Fred Skolnik, Partner at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, highlighted their organization's connection to MENTOR New York through their Lawyers Involved in Kids' Education (L.I.K.E.) program, which has been bringing joy and satisfaction to mentors and mentees since 2004. See the 2023 Ad Journal to learn more about the Topgolf Challenge sponsors and attending programs.
Do you or your company want to be a part of this transformational movement? To engage your team in making a difference, reach out to Sam Cowles at scowles@mentornewyork.org. Your support can help build a brighter future for all young New Yorkers.