OCTOBER 2021 NEWSLETTER

October 5, 2021
 
It is officially "Fall" and for a lot of us that means the beginning of a season where we choose to be a little more intentional about having a heart of gratitude. Here at MVLF, we have so much to be thankful for and we can't wait to share it with you! Although the past year and a half have been challenging for all of us in so many different ways, we continue to see the Lord at work throughout the Miami Valley. As we continue to say "yes" to everything God has planned for MVLF, we always want to remember to celebrate from a place of extreme gratitude. Without you and the other amazing MVLF partnerships, our work of mentoring youth, strengthening families, and building healthy communities would not be possible. 
 

Each year, MVLF holds its annual fundraising, appreciation, and celebration event inviting our many partners to come together to learn and hear about all that MVLF is doing around programs, partnerships, and purpose.  This year's event will highlight the amazing ways the Lord has been moving through MVLF over the past year and a half. We are excited to share this evening with you as we enjoy a nice dinner, celebrate the work being done throughout the Miami Valley, and raise funds that will benefit our mission of mentoring youth, strengthening families, and building healthy communities! The deadline for reserving your ticket is October 17. Join us for this exciting event!

When: Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Time: 5:30pm Doors Open
          6:00pm Dinner

Where: West Carrollton Nazarene
             550 South Elm St
             West Carrollton, OH 45449

Click Here To Register For The Celebration and Fundraising Banquet
 
MVLF's Youth Mentoring Program partners with schools all over the Miami Valley. Most schools have been in session for a little over a month and the need for caring adult mentors to build transformative relationships with students is growing tremendously. As we communicate with school district and building administrators, one thing is clear ~ our schools need us to be praying for them, supporting them, and encouraging them. It is a very challenging time in the education world right now. Students have been through a lot the past two school years and educators are starting to see some gaps both in academic areas as well as social/emotional areas. Bringing mentors into the schools to help support students is one way we can partner with our schools and remind them they are not alone.

This fall has been an exciting and busy season for the mentoring program. New schools are reaching out to MVLF to learn about the mentoring program and inquire about getting it started in their buildings. Returning mentors are anxiously waiting for their mentees to return their 2021-2022 Parent Consent forms so they can begin meeting again. Some of these returning mentors haven't connected with their mentee since March of 2020. Record number of new mentors are being trained, background checked and matched with students all over the Miami Valley. 

But guess what? Even though we are setting records with the number of new mentors being recruited and trained, we are still falling short to meet the need in the schools.

There are opportunities to be a caring adult mentor to a student in Mad River Local Schools, Miamisburg City Schools, West Carrollton Schools, Northmont Schools, Huber Heights City Schools and several private/charter schools that are starting to form mentoring programs in partnership with MVLF. Would you consider being a mentor?
Learn More About Becoming A Mentor
The great disruption of this last year (Covid19) may have temporarily slowed the momentum of MVLF's youth mentoring program, BUT it had the opposite effect on our Hope4Communities program. We've seen an igniting of awareness, discovery, participation, and engagement from within the Miami Valley. MVLF staff are supporting and coaching two (2) startup Hope4Communities ~ Hope4 Centerville|WT and Hope4 Kettering. MVLF is actively partnering and serving with several Hope4Communities around the Miami Valley:

Hope4 Riverside (Dan Powell lead person and H4C Founder)
Hope4 Miamisburg (Sarah Pelphrey lead person and MVLF Community Specialist)
Hope4 North Dayton (Randy Chestnut lead person and MVLF Co-Founder)
Hope4 West Dayton (Ronnie Moreland lead person)
Hope4 West Carrollton (Rich Harmon lead person)
Hope4 Centerville|WT (Sam Holmes & Steve Rudisill co-leaders)
Hope4 Kettering (Tyler Trent lead person)

MVLF is proud to partner with these outstanding leaders who are collectively focused on building healthy communities; Hope4Communities (...church-led collective impact). Please pray for these leaders as they engage leaders of good faith and good will, build capacity within their communities, and develop joint initiatives. Please pray for MVLF as we continue our mission to build relationships that transform lives. God is blessing MVLF.
God is blessing MVLF and our Hope4Community partners.
We are looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks at the
Celebration and Fundraising Banquet on November 9!
Don't forget to register by October 17!
- The MVLF Leadership Team

Click HERE to register!