President George W. Bush, President-elect Barack Obama, and General Colin L. Powell will headline the Eighth Annual National Mentoring Month volunteer recruitment drive, it was announced today. Held each January, the campaign mobilizes community volunteers to help young people achieve their full potential.

On December 30, President Bush issued a Proclamation designating January 2009 as National Mentoring Month. In addition, President-elect Barack Obama has agreed to be featured in a print ad promoting mentor recruitment under the slogan, "Be the Change: Mentor a Child." And, General Powell will be featured in a TV PSA supporting the campaign.

Last year, more than 375,000 individuals responded to the campaign by seeking information about local mentoring programs that need more volunteers.

Research has shown that programs that rely on volunteer mentors can play a powerful role in reducing drug abuse and youth violence while greatly enhancing a young person's prospects for leading a healthy and productive life.

National Mentoring Month is spearheaded by the Harvard Mentoring Project of the Harvard School of Public Health, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Media partners include: CBS, FOX, NBC, MTV, Comcast, Time Warner, and the National Association of Broadcasters.

As a highlight of National Mentoring Month 2009, Thank Your Mentor Day(tm) will be celebrated on January 22. On that day, many Americans will reach out to thank or honor those individuals who encouraged and guided them, and had a lasting impact on their lives. Thank Your Mentor Day promotes "Four Ways to Honor Your Mentor": 1) contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation; 2) pass on what you received by becoming a mentor to a young person in your community; 3) make a financial contribution to a local mentoring program; and, 4) write a tribute to your mentor for posting on www.WhoMentoredYou.org.

In communities across the country, designated nonprofit and governmental agencies are responsible for coordinating local campaign activities, including media outreach and volunteer recruitment. These local lead partners include state and local affiliates of MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network, America's Promise Alliance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Communities in Schools, and United Way of America.

Each year since its launch in 2002, National Mentoring Month has enjoyed the strong support of President George W. Bush and the United States Congress. Other prominent individuals who have participated in the campaign include: Maya Angelou, former President Bill Clinton, Clint Eastwood, Senator John McCain, Quincy Jones, General Colin L. Powell, Cal Ripken, Jr., Bill Russell, and Usher. For more information on National Mentoring Month, please visit: www.NationalMentoringMonth.org.  Thank Your Mentor Day is an initiative of the Harvard School of Public Health.

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