Mentors: Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel

Mentees:Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services

Overview: Youth from Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services (a very special place that houses and helps boys and girls between the ages of 12-18 that are referred by the county probation department throughout California) are bussed to Ritz-Carlton twice a month to spend two hours at the worksite with Ritz-Carlton employee volunteers as their mentors. These sessions are a combination of one-on-one meetings between mentee and mentor, group projects, guest speakers and Life Skills Workshops conducted by YMC staff.

The focus of our program is on the one-one relationship between mentor and mentee, with emphasis on professional development, trust, self confidence, empowerment and a vision for the future.

"You are my friend and because of you I know that there are nice people in the world. You really support me when I need it and never let me down."