PLATTE COUNTY – Children are the future of our society, but too often, bright, promising kids fall by the wayside and don’t fulfill their potential as adults because their home life may not be the best environment. Or sometimes, they feel forgotten and give up.
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PLATTE COUNTY – Children are the future of our society, but too often, bright, promising kids fall by the wayside and don’t fulfill their potential as adults because their home life may not be the best environment. Or sometimes, they feel forgotten and give up.
Former Head football coach for the University of Nebraska, Dr. Tom Osborne, wanted to help at-risk kids and started what is now known as TeamMates mentoring.
Platte County educators, business owners and community leaders attended a lunchtime meeting at the Wheatland Middle School to hear Osborne speak about the TeamMates program. TeamMates started after Osborne asked his football players at the University of Nebraska to meet with middle school students in 1991. Osborne thought his athletes could inspire kids to not only stay in school and graduate, but to pursue higher education as well.
Of the 22 original mentees, 21 graduated from high school while one left school to go on a successful motocross tour. Eighteen earned some form of additional education. Since then, caring adults volunteer to be the mentors and the program has expanded across the Midwest.
Mentors are matched with a student and agree to see them once a week. Normally, it’s during the child’s lunch period. Sometimes, other outings are planned.
“You just have to show up so these kids know someone cares about them,” Osborne said.