Oregon Live:

by Mark Rosenbaum and Ken Thrasher

In the glare of our materialistic opportunities, the holiday season finds us fighting for moments of peace and an opportunity to reflect on our most important gifts. For all of us our family and friends are our most precious asset. They are precious because of the future we see in our children's eyes and our friends' questions, the reliable love they provide and the support, humor and challenge we share.

In looking at what to give for Christmas, or what to include in your New Year's resolutions, why not resolve to give the gift of friendship or involvement to a child? Your gift of time creates the vision of a future, where it does not exist. It offers a sense of stability and friendship to a life in need.

Mentoring occurs on a day to day basis. In business, people exchange ideas and helpful hints constantly; neighbors assist one another; in sports and hobby we share information on how to excel on a constant basis through clubs or pickup games. While involved in these matters, we do not think twice about our ability to learn or have an impact. Yet when it comes to mentoring a child, very good people think twice before volunteering.

No one needs a Ph.D. in kids to have a conversation, learn about a young person's life, go to the movies, attend a basketball game. You do not need a master's degree in psychology to tell a teenager or young person about the lessons you've learned or about expectations that they can have.

In looking for relevance and meaning, act on your knowledge that it is not what we receive this time of year that counts, but what we give.

If you would prefer donating your money rather than your time, please consider giving to an organization that employs professional friends who serve kids from 6-17 years of age. The organization is called Friends of the Children. They are headquartered in Oregon with chapters sprouting up all across the country.

Tim was a charter member of the Board of Friends of the Children's San Francisco Chapter. Upon their inception in 2001, FOC San Francisco received financial support from Steve Young's Forever Young Foundation and the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation to serve children from the Bayview Hunters Point, Sunnydale, Double Rock and Ingleside communities. Friends is the only program in the nation that commits full-time, professional mentors to neglected and challenged youth for a period of twelve years. Currently, 32 children living in these communities are being served by "Friends."

Please call Executive Director, Anna Yen at 415-856-5193 today if you would like to empower Friends' mentors to help FOC's at-risk kids grow into responsible and productive adults. As Founder, Duncan Campbell says, "One person, over time, can turn a life around."