Kinship of Greater Minneapolis is a youth mentoring program that brings children together with caring adults so they can create lasting quality relationships that positive effect their lives. Our goal is to give kids the assets they need to be successful in school and life. The most important outcomes children gain are the skills and building blocks for successful relationships, the knowledge that an adult outside of their family cares about them, the optimism that they can succeed, an increased respect for others and a feeling of being cared and valued.
Kinship’s mentoring program gives kids the support they need to reach their full potential. Most of the children come from low-income single-family homes and have trouble in school and difficulty getting along with family members and peers. By connecting them with caring individuals, couples or families who are committed to spending time with them, these children receive much needed additional adult support.
Currently there are 150 children on our waiting list that wait an average wait time of one year for a mentor.
Our Mission
Kinship of Greater Minneapolis helps children ages 5-15, in need of additional support, to realize their God given potential through adult friendships. Kinship also provides a unique service opportunity for individuals, couples and families to put their faith into action on behalf of children. This is our mission.
•Children deserve the opportunity for healthy social, physical, spiritual and intellectual development. Youth mentoring makes a positive difference where additional adult support is needed.
•The quality of Kinship service and relationships is more important than quantity. We believe in careful screening, matching and follow-up support of program participants. In recruiting children and mentors, we do not discriminate.
•Regular, long-term relationships with a variety of adults are vital to healthy child development. We believe in inclusiveness and collaborative efforts that bring people of different races and creeds together.
•Prevention is more valuable and effective in human development than interventions occurring after considerable suffering and hurt have scarred lives. Our Mentoring Children of Prisoners Initiative is a response to this reality.
•We are motivated by the values inspired by our heritage in the Christian church. We choose to love our neighbors as ourselves which mandates us to respond to the needs of hurting children and their families.
•People need opportunities to put their faith into action. Kinship provides the structure and organization for them to do this effectively. Through the giving of themselves, they are blessed.
The goal of Kinship’s mentoring program is to giving kids the support they need to reach their full potential. Most of the children come from low-income single-family homes and have trouble in school and difficulty getting along with family members and peers. By connecting them with caring individuals, couples or families who are committed to spending time with them, these children receive much needed additional adult support. Currently there are 150 children on our waiting list that wait an average of one year for a mentor.
Why We Need a New Website
In order to create mentoring relationships Kinship relies on over 800 volunteers annually. We need an effective way to communicate with potential volunteers about the kids who are waiting for a mentor. Our goal is to create an interactive website that allows users to quickly gather information and initiate the volunteer process. Our plan includes a redesigned home page that tells our story with fewer words and more pictures. By using graphics and movement we would like to motivate the reader to action. We need our forms to be a readable PDF so they can be completed on line and then sent to our database, if possible. We want our potential mentors to be able to start the process from the comfort of their own home. This will help our volunteers get the information they need quickly and easily and they can begin the volunteer process.
We would like to have a video posted on the website. We need to strengthen the donor page with a quick and easy donor button. We also would like to post our newsletters and annual report to the website so we save on resources and our volunteers have easy access to information at all times of day.
We would, like to explore training on line either webinars or interactive mini trainings that we can monitor who is online with us or not. We also would love to explore adding free program downloads to our website to make it more interactive and user friendly. It would be great if we can add our Facebook information and LinkedIn info to our website.
How Our New Site Will Help Make the World Greener
By developing our website to the fullest we can eliminate our carbon foot print significantly. We would be using electronic media instead of paper to make our voices heard. We would help our volunteers save on time and fuel by using our website for trainings and information. This would be a wonderful way for us to help our families be successful in conservation.
When the judges choose which non-profits will be selected to participate in this year's Challenge they will take into account testimonials from beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, board members and other
Kinship is a small non profit using its resources to support mentors and families. It does not have extra income or talent to create an interactive website. Kinship could do a lot for the families it serves by having distance learning and readable forms on the website so that customers can quickly get what they need. Kinship also needs to attrach potential mentors and families to its website. It has great pics but too many words on the page and items are buried in the pages and hard to find. Kinship needs this opportunity to construct focused pages and interactive medium to bring the webpage up to the current standard. It needs your help.
Margie Edberg staff
I have been mentoring with Kinship for 2 years and it has changed my life as well as the 10 year old girl's life that I mentor. Kinship is a great organization with a fantastic mission, but there are not enough mentors to meet the needs of the children waiting for someone to invest into them as a person. This organization helps kids have hope to follow their dreams and become positive members of society. A new website will allow mentees and mentors to connect and positively transform the lives of kids all over the metro area.
Amber Jensen, volunteer (mentor)
This month, Brandon, the young boy we mentored graduates from Concordia College-Morehead! Kinship needs to attract more mentors to help kids, like Brandon, reach their potential. However, in these times of recession Kinship's budget has been reduced to focus mainly on the costs for matching kids and mentors, leaving little to nothing for recruitment. This is where your OVERNIGHT MAKEOVER MADNESS comes in. The public is used to Madison Avenue quality web sites that draw us in to persuade. Kinship needs your help telling its story in a compelling way with eye-catching pages and video. Making a difference in the lives of kids can't happen OVERNIGHT. But with your help, potential mentors and donors can get the info they need to take the next step.
Kay Helmken Former Mentor and Current Donor
Kinship is an organization that is impacts childrens lives one at a time. When one looks at the statistics it is overwhelming as to how to effect a child's life. If we were granted a web site makeover, perhaps it would be easier to attract more mentors, donors, mentees. There are thousands of good causes, Kinship is an organization that does work and does make a difference. Please consider helping our cause.
Linda Chisholm, Mentor and Donor
Can you visually tell the story of some children who have found mentors? Like a journey with mentor/mentee with interview...why she likes seeing her mentor, what they've learned...how it's enriched their lives. Interview the mom...they are usually single parents and cant' spend the time and money to do things that the mentors can do. I helped my little girl to get swim lessons and learn to swim. Her mother called me and said "She can swim! She can swim!!" She clearly never thought it would happen since she didn't know how herself. Her mother also told me that she gets ready HOURS before I come to see her. These kids need someone to care for them. To open their eyes to new experiences and ways of living...Please help these children who know nothing out of their own backyard and very often dont even know some of the most basic of experiences. Just one person to care about you can change your life....
Become an Everyday Hero: Mentor a Child
Wendi Russo Mentor, Ambassador
I am seventy-four years old and a mentor of a nine-year-old boy who does not have a father or a grandfather. This young boy waited for over two years to get a mentor and was so excited when he found out that he finally got me. When I first met him he had a basket of goodies made up for me
not knowing whether we would match up. Words cannot express what this match has done for him and myself. I have suffered from depression all my life and mentoring this child has made me happier and more fulfilled as a person and I know my young friend is much happier, too. When I brought him home recently, he said, "I am privileged!" There are over 150 needy children on the waiting list who need mentors that will make them feel
like they are special or privileged. A free makeover on the Kinship website could help provide more mentors for needy children of single parent families.
Rev. Ken Reiners, mentor and donor
Hello! I would just like to say that I am a single mother working full time and going to college. The Kinship program has been a support tool and a much needed blessing to my son and I. My son is still on the waiting list for a mentor and has been for over a year. I def know that a new attractive interactive website willl help the program gain more much needed mentors. Even though my son is still on the waiting list, he is active in their "waiting kids" program activities and it makes him feel important and that he has an extended family for fun and learning in his life!
Happy Holidays and God Bless!
Erin Fluegel and Devon Moore (program participants)
I am one of the mentors with Kinship. I would like to see them get a boost to thier website because, while it is somewhat functional, I think a face-lift could help them communicate better to both potential mentors and clients of thier services. I have been mentoring for about 3 years and have seen the little girl I mentor blossom from a youngster a little unsure of herself to a beautiful 10 year old who meets the world with confidence. I know mentoring works because she asks me questions and tells me things that I know she would be uncomfortable asking others. Her mom and I have a great partnership in helping her grow and blossom and the fun we have together lets my mentee know that the world is a safe and wonderful place. I hope Kinship is able to obtain the help needed to improve thier website so that other children can find mentors - there is a huge waiting list.
Bertha Dannemiller - mentor
Kinship serves the greatest possible audience - kids, who represent our future. By connecting adults and families who expose kids to new possibilities, Kinship strengthens the future of our community. An investment in redesigning Kinship's website is an investment in our future. Kinship's current website contains lots of good information. However, it doesn't engage its constituents in the multi-media way that prompts people to action. The current format is too static and requires users to read through too much information. The majority of Kinship's stakeholders are working adults and/or have many other demands on their time and, accordingly, rely on the most time effective way to obtain information or answers. Currently the most time effective manner of obtaining information is to call Kinship staff (even if the information they seek is on the website). Repackaging content in ways bring Kinship's story to life (video testimonials) and enable easy user interaction (chat feature, "ask Jeeves" FAQs, self service match profiles that either mentors or kids can update for each other and/or for the broader Kinship community ( e.g.; here's what we did today, email exchange, calendar of birthdays, activities, etc.) would be great.
Lisa Johnson, Kinshiop Personnel Committee
As a small non-profit in today's economy Kinship is looking for help to get the word out about our fantastic program. Kinship has provided caring adult friendships to many children over the years and has truly changed lives. Children have the chance to experience a caring relationship with another adult that can spend one-on-one time with them doing everyday activities that their parent or guardian may just not have the means or time for as they struggle through their daily challenges. Many of the children make lasting relationships that change their lives and have opportunities to do things that they would not normally do or see or participate in. Changing Kinship's website would give more credence to our program, enable us to provide more information in an easier to read and interactive format, make applying to become a mentor to a child more convenient, enable us to provide more information to current mentors and parents and should attract more people to our program. I am hopeful you will help us touch more lives!
Linda--staff and mother of a former child who had a Kinship mentor
kinship is a great thing! both my children have had and have GREAT mentors, it is just nice to have people who care and help! i think they should get a new website they are such caring wonderful people and i'm sure they would love it.it would help get the word out better and hopefully be able to get more great mentors and not such a long waiting list!
sue barclay mother
As a donor and former board member I know the two critical needs for Kinship to carry out it's mission are mentors and financial resources. A good website is very important to carrry the message about these two critical needs. There are too many children whose needs are not being met. Kinship has demonstrated through measureable outcomes how children's lives are changed and grow to become productive and caring adults. It is evident that people are shifting from reading written material to reading information on websites. A website also provides potential donors and mentors with a tool to ask questions and get answers quickly that may encourage them to share their needed talents and resources.
Les Swenson, donor and volunteer.
This program has been a lifesaver for my daughter, although we had a rocky start she is now with a mentor that fits to a T. I thank God that we made it to this point as a year ago my daughter was thinking of taking her life. We have a blended family and she has two younger brother and sister and needs an out with an adult. I try hard to give individual time but as she is a teen sometimes they need an adult that is not mom. I was drown specifically to Kinship as it is faith based, which is this day and time is very important. Kids are a lot different and so is the world. I know God will guide you as you look at the impact this can have not only on the child but the adult. I want this program to progress to reach more and more people and change their life to the light of our Savior.
Carol, my daughter has been matched with a mentor
Kinship depends on people busy people (like me) volunteering their time to make a difference in the life of a child. A good website that makes it easy for potential volunteers and donors to learn about the work of kinship, get their questions answered, and take the initial steps towards becoming a mentor is essential to their work. I've been a mentor with the same child (now a young adult) for 10 years, and I've seen him mature and become responsible in ways that I wouldn't have believed possible. Kinship made this possible and improved recruiting through the website will allow more matches to happen.
Nils Dybvig, mentor and donor
Kinship is an unbelieveable organization! I have been involved with Kinship for 3 years now and have mentored for almost 1, I am amazed at the with the people involved with this program. My mentee and I have so much fun and I think it is me who sometimes looks foward to our time together more, it's exciting to make such a huge difference in someone's life by just being there. If Kinship could get a new website it would benefit so many people, donors, mentees and mentors, the current website can be very challenging to navigate and therefore I feel some people are turned away. I hope that Kinship is offered this great opportunity as they deserve it for all of the wonderful things they do!
Jen Bedell, mentor
I have been working at Kinship of Greater Minneapolis for four years and I hear testimonies day in and day out about the impact our 54-year-old mentoring agency has made in the lives of thousands of children around the Twin Cities. Research backs our work and tells us that children with risk factors built into their circumstances will make better choices if a mentor/caring adult friend is placed in their life. It is often the difference between:
~ staying in school or dropping out,
~ joining a gang or joining a school club, and
~ trying alcohol and drugs OR NOT!
Mentoring makes a difference in this community and Kinship of Greater Minneapolis, more than ever in these turbulent economic times, needs your help to keep us vital and updated in this quickly evolving world of cyberspace!.
Choose us - choose us!!
Nancy Torrison, Director of Recruitment and Communications
Hi, I am a parent who has volunteered for Kinship with my daughter, her friend and her friends mother a couple of times and have seen first hand the hard work and dedication that Kinship offers their clients! I was also the Guardian for a young man who received a mentor through Kinship and learned and thoroughly enjoyed every moment he spent with his mentor, very much so looking forward to their time together! What a wonderful, educational and fun experience Kinship has to offer! Please Choose Kinship!!
Karen Johnson, Parent, Guardian and Volunteer
Anonymous
Kinship of Greater Minneapolis is truly making our community a better place to live by helping give hope to not only the children they serve but also their families, friends, neighbors, anyone they come in contact with. We read every day of at least one senseless crime involving at least 2 people-what a difference if at least one of those people had a person who had shepherded them through the crazy maze of life. Without hope for their future, many kids are going to just give up and go down the path of least resistance. In this "hurry up" world, it is essential that the website be as easy to navigate as possible and that images and stories pop out and give people a real sense of the impact a mentor can have on a child. I so hope you choose Kinship to be the recipient of this amazing gift. Thank you for considering this marvelous organization.
Nancy Wagner, Volunteer, Donor and former Staff Member
My daughter and son being matched up has CHANGED THEIR LIVES for the better, these relationships which began as a simple friendship has grown into great love for some very special people that they have learned to trust, rely on, confide in, have fun with and be encouraged by. Kinship is very deserving of this website makeover-as young lives are being blessed and changed by this organization through loving volunteers and sponsors.
Colleen, single mother of 2 matched children
My son and I came across Kinship 10 YEARS ago when he was only 5yrs old. I was fortunate enough to be attending a church who had brought in a representative from Kinship to share about the program, and it's need for Mentors, otherwise I may have NEVER known about this AMAZING and LIFE-CHANGING program. After the class, I went to the back table and signed my son up to be on a waiting list for a male Mentor. As a single mother, with a father who was not involved, my son was in GREAT need of a male role-model in his life. Someone who could give special 1:1 time with him. A year later, my son was BLESSED beyond measure by a young man named Steve. He has filled a need in my son's life that would otherwise never have been met. I can't thank him enough. Now, 10yrs. later, along with a wife and 3 kids, Steve STILL is involved in my son's life! My son has been challenged with Autism, and as a teenager, his peers have made him feel isolated and alone. Steve's friendship lets him know that he IS important, no matter WHAT life changes and challenges come along!! This is PRICELESS to both my son and I. I know how much my son has benefited by having a Mentor, and there are hundreds of children with the same need. By developing a state-of-the-art web-site through the OVERNIGHT CHALLENGE, those children will have an increased chance of being BLESSED and their lives being CHANGED FOREVER by an individual who comes across the site (like Steve), and decides to volunteer/mentor through Kinship. PLEASE be a part of making a LIFE-CHANGING differences in a children's lives by making over Kinships' website. Thank you!
Joan, single mother of a matched child.
I have been mentoring a young girl through Kinship for four years. I have seen her grow from a shy, quiet, unsure six year old to a vibrant, confident ten year old. You can see how having another positive and consistant adult in a child's life can make a difference. Kinship really does make a positive difference in our community. Not only for the children it serves, but for the mentors and volunteers as well. Mentoring has given me so many blessings and really has positively impacted my life, along with my child's. Kinship works with limited resources and getting a "website makeover" would really help them to attract more mentors - which will have a great impact on our community. Please consider Kinship! Thank You!
Mary - current mentor and donor
My son had a mentor for a year and has been on the waiting list for at least a year for another one. While he is on the list, eagerly waiting for a male mentor, he has enjoyed other activities that Kinship offers to, not just the waiting kids, but the families as well. We have enjoyed wonderful Christmas gifts, that mean so much to us! We have no family, so I wouldn't receive gifts otherwise, and recently lost my job, so the gifts my son received this past Christmas was basically all he got, so Kinship saved us this year!! :) My son really needs and has benefited from having a mentor, particularly a male mentor, as he longs for a relationship with an adult male and doesn't have one is his life other than his coaches. We tried going through another mentoring agency, but it just didn't work out. The support, follow-thru and communication were really lacking. I know who to call/e-mail if I have ANY questions or concerns, and know that I will receive a response with honesty, respect, etc. I could go on and on ... PLEASE SUPPORT AN OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION THAT DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB OF SUPPORTING OTHERS IN NEED!!!
Angela, mother of Jakob-waiting list
I’ve been the accidental techie at Kinship for also most 10 years. I tried to upload our logo onto this website, and it was a frustrating mess. I just couldn’t get it small enough without losing content, so I opted for picture of a mentor and kid. We are not very good website developers at Kinship. We are great at giving kids the support they need to succeed! Please help us use our website to tell the stories of the wonderful kids who are waiting for a special friend. Together we can make our community a little better for them. Thanks for considering us!
Marit, Kinship Staff Person
I am a single parent of a child who has a mentor through Kinship. I am grateful for my child’s mentor. She takes my child for a couple hours each week. During the time my child is gone I can do things for myself. It could be as simple as taking a hot bath or reading a book without interruptions. Going out to lunch or visiting a friend. Both my child and I benefit from the time apart.
Chawni, parent
I have been a mentor with Kinship for over 8 years. What starts out as a volunteer opportunity turns into a loving and caring relationship.
Kinship's work with children is priceless. Our world of technology and internet has made having a fabulous website much more important in the recruiting of new mentors to match the list of 150 waiting children. As a mentor, I think Kinship's greatest challenge is helping people understand that being a mentor is not just adding another activity to their already busy lives but it's opening your heart and home to a child that wants so very much to have one on one time with another caring adult - to listen, play, learn and love each other. Please help Kinship bring this message into the 21st Century with a fabulous website makeover.
