MentorKids Stories & Updates
Press releases, MentorMoments, announcements, reflections, and real-life updates from across our Promise Neighborhoods.
Western Alliance Bank Awards Grant to MentorKids USA
Thanks to the generous support of Western Alliance Bank, MentorKids USA hosted its Annual All Promise Neighborhood Christmas Party, bringing families together for a joyful morning of celebration, connection, and holiday traditions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2025
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from Western Alliance Bank in support of its Annual All Promise Neighborhood Christmas Party.
Families from each Promise Neighborhood were transported to Valley Presbyterian Church, where they enjoyed a festive morning full of holiday crafts, face painting, a photo booth, a climbing wall, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and a delicious shared meal. Students delighted their families with holiday songs and a Christmas play, and each child received a gift before returning to their neighborhoods.
“We are deeply grateful to Western Alliance Bank for this generous gift, which helped provide a meaningful and joyful Christmas experience for our children and their families,” said Aaron Parrott, Executive Director of MentorKids USA.
The celebration served more than 600 children and family members from MentorKids USA’s Promise Neighborhoods in South Phoenix, North Phoenix (Palomino), South Scottsdale (Paiute), Maryvale, and Tempe.
For more information about MentorKids USA and its programs, visit www.mentorkidsusa.org.
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About MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA is a faith-based nonprofit equipping K–12 students to become transformative leaders in their families and communities. Through six Promise Neighborhoods across the Phoenix area, MentorKids provides no-cost programs focused on academic excellence, spiritual growth, and leadership development. From elementary school through high school, students are surrounded by consistent relationships and opportunities to learn, lead, and invest in others—Building Leaders Who Build Leaders.
Media Contact
Jill Bailey
Development Director, MentorKids USA
480-767-6707 | [email protected]
Beaty Martinez Foundation Awards Grant to MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA is honored to receive a generous grant from the Beaty Martinez Foundation in support of its LEAD After-School Program, which provides critical academic enrichment and leadership development for under-resourced students. This investment will help sustain and expand programming that supports students’ educational, social, emotional, and spiritual growth—ensuring every child has access to the tools and mentorship they need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2025
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from the Beaty Martinez Foundation in support of its LEAD After-School Program.
LEAD stands for “Leadership, Enrichment, Academics, and Discovery”, and is conducted four days per week immediately after-school. The commitment of this program is to positively impact the lives of under-resourced students by improving their educational access and outcomes, at zero cost to their families. Through the LEAD program, MentorKids USA provides reading and math assistance, homework help, lessons on leadership, Bible lessons, art, music, physical exercise, a nutritious snack, and fun extra-curricular activities.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Beaty Martinez Foundation for this generous investment in the lives of the youth we serve," said Aaron Parrott, Executive Director of MentorKids USA.
Currently serving students in South Phoenix, North Phoenix (Palomino), South Scottsdale (Paiute), Maryvale, and Tempe Promise Neighborhoods, LEAD’s objective is to positively impact student success—in the classroom and in the community, long- and short-term—by focusing on outcomes tailored to each individual student, and his or her unique strengths and challenges.
The grant from the Beaty Martinez Foundation will help sustain and grow the LEAD after-school program, ensuring students’ academic, social, emotional, and spiritual needs are supported.
For more information about MentorKids USA and its programs, visit www.mentorkidsusa.org.
Download Press Release
About MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA is a faith-based nonprofit equipping K–12 students to become transformative leaders in their families and communities. Through six Promise Neighborhoods across the Phoenix area, MentorKids provides no-cost programs focused on academic excellence, spiritual growth, and leadership development. From elementary school through high school, students are surrounded by consistent relationships and opportunities to learn, lead, and invest in others—Building Leaders Who Build Leaders.
Media Contact
Jill Bailey
Development Director, MentorKids USA
480-767-6707 | [email protected]
Gila River Indian Community Awards Grant to MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA has been awarded a grant from the Gila River Indian Community State Shared Revenue Program to support its iLEAD My Generation program—a four-year leadership initiative that equips high school students to mentor younger peers, gain job skills, and become confident community leaders.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2025
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from the Gila River Indian Community State Shared Revenue Program in support of its innovative iLEAD My Generation program – an intensive four-year high school leadership and mentoring initiative.
The iLEAD My Generation program (Leadership, Exploration, Academics, and Discovery) equips high school students in underserved neighborhoods with critical job training, academic support, and leadership development. A unique feature of the program is that students serve as paid mentors to younger children in MentorKids’ after-school and summer programs, helping them grow while gaining real-world skills and confidence.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Gila River Indian Community for this generous investment in the lives of the youth we serve," said Aaron Parrott, Executive Director of MentorKids USA. "This funding will allow us to deepen our impact and expand opportunities for students to become confident, capable leaders in their families and communities."
Currently serving students in South Phoenix, North Phoenix (Palomino), South Scottsdale (Paiute), and Maryvale Promise Neighborhoods, iLEAD is transforming the lives of teens at high risk of becoming disconnected youth—those who are neither in school nor working. The program boasts strong outcomes in school attendance, academic achievement, leadership development, and high school graduation.
The grant from the Gila River Indian Community State Shared Revenue Program represents a three-year investment that will help sustain and grow the iLEAD My Generation program, ensuring students are supported on their journey toward high school graduation and a purposeful next step.
For more information about MentorKids USA and its programs, visit www.mentorkidsusa.org.
Media Contact:
Jill Bailey
Development Director, MentorKids USA
480-767-6707 | [email protected]
MentorKids USA Receives Grant from The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation
We’re honored to announce that MentorKids USA has received a generous grant from The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation in support of our Tempe Promise Neighborhood—our fifth Promise Neighborhood launched in January 2025. This investment will help provide critical academic support, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities to students and families in Tempe.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2025
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation to support Tempe Promise Neighborhood Seed Funding. The Tempe Promise Neighborhood is MentorKids USA’s fifth Promise Neighborhood location, launched in January of 2025.
MentorKids USA’s youth development programming is offered at no cost to families in five Promise Neighborhoods: South Phoenix, Maryvale, Palomino, Paiute, and Tempe. Each year, more than 600 students receive daily homework help, reading and math support, enrichment activities, leadership development, and mentorship in a safe, nurturing environment through after-school and summer programming.
Founded in 1997, the mission of MentorKids USA is to equip and empower youth to be transformative leaders in their lives, their families, and their communities. We are Building Leaders Who Build Leaders.
“The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation’s investment directly supports the students we serve through the Tempe Promise Neighborhood, many of whom face significant barriers such as poverty, unstable family environments, and limited access to resources,” said Aaron Parrott, Executive Director at MentorKids USA. “This grant will help ensure these youth receive the support and tools they need to realize their potential.”
MentorKids USA is proud to partner with the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation to transform lives and communities through its Promise Neighborhood model. To learn more about the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, visit Our Legacy - The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation
For more information about MentorKids USA and its programs, visit www.mentorkidsusa.org.
Media Contact:
Jill Bailey
Development Director, MentorKids USA
480-767-6707 | [email protected]
Executive Council Charities Awards $2,400 Grant to MentorKids USA
“Executive Council Charities’ investment directly supports the students we serve, many of whom face significant barriers such as poverty, unstable family environments, and limited access to resources,” said Audrey Gallinger, Grants Manager at MentorKids USA. “This grant will help ensure these youth receive the support and tools they need to realize their potential.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2025
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a $2,400 grant from Executive Council Charities (ECC) in support of its LEAD after-school program, which equips underserved K–8th grade youth in the Greater Phoenix Area to succeed academically, grow as leaders, and build brighter futures.
LEAD—Leadership, Enrichment, Academics, and Discovery—is offered at no cost to families in MentorKids’ five Promise Neighborhoods: South Phoenix, Maryvale, Palomino, Paiute, and Tempe. Each year, more than 250 students receive daily homework help, reading and math support, enrichment activities, leadership development, and mentorship in a safe, nurturing environment.
Founded in 1997, the mission of MentorKids USA is to equip and empower youth to be transformative leaders in their lives, their families, and their communities. We are Building Leaders Who Build Leaders.
“Executive Council Charities’ investment directly supports the students we serve, many of whom face significant barriers such as poverty, unstable family environments, and limited access to resources,” said Audrey Gallinger, Grants Manager at MentorKids USA. “This grant will help ensure these youth receive the support and tools they need to realize their potential.”
Executive Council Charities is dedicated to helping Arizona’s youth overcome adversity and reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. MentorKids USA shares this mission and is proud to partner with ECC to transform lives and communities through its Promise Neighborhood model.
To learn more about Executive Council Charities, visit ECC: A nonprofit corporation dedicated to helping the youth
Media Contact:
Jill Bailey
Development Director, MentorKids USA
480-767-6707 | [email protected]
Celebrating Faithful Leadership and a Strong Future at MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA celebrates a season of faithful leadership and new beginnings. After seven years of dedicated service as Board Chair, Tammy Valdez passes the baton to Diane Erhart, who will lead us into a new era of growth and impact. Join us in thanking Tammy for her servant leadership and welcoming Diane into her new role as we continue building leaders who build leaders.
Board Leadership Transition at MentorKids USA
A Message from Aaron
God uses the right people at the right time to accomplish great things. This has been true with Tammy Valdez’s 7-year tenure as Board Chair. She stepped into the role during a very challenging season, and God used her to bring stability, strength, and growth.
We are so grateful for her servant leadership and dedication.
It is also my pleasure to introduce our new Board Chair, Diane Erhart. Diane began as a Program Volunteer in Palomino and, for the past year and a half, has faithfully led the MentorKids Board Finance Committee. We are excited to see how God uses her leadership to usher in a new era of growth and impact for MentorKids.
A Message from Tammy Valdez, Outgoing Board Chair
“It has been an incredible pleasure working with MentorKids USA for the last 10 years, including 6 years as Chair. Much has changed in that time. My focus has been on the People Experience, Process Scalability, and Expanding Funding. When I began, we had a different Executive Leader, and we developed Aaron to take on that role.
We went from financially unstable to financially strong with audited financials. I have remained constant through 18 board members rolling off the Board. We changed the Vision and Mission to the Promise Neighborhood model, grew from 2 to 5 Promise Neighborhoods, launched the iLEADer program, and weathered challenges like COVID and racial tensions.
Through it all, the Lord has shown up and made the impossible possible—with Aaron being extremely coachable and motivated to change the world, one kid at a time.
What a joy it has been to see what the Lord can do with our 5 loaves and 2 fishes.”
— Tammy Valdez
A Message from Diane Erhart, Incoming Board Chair
“I’m honored to step into the role of Chair of the Board for MentorKids USA. Having first been a volunteer for the organization, then serving on the board since 2023 and Finance Chair since 2024, I’ve seen firsthand the powerful impact of our mission.
I want to thank Tammy Valdez for her outstanding leadership. Under her wisdom and prayerful guidance, the organization has grown significantly and refined the execution of the Promise Neighborhood Model. Her counsel has been instrumental, and I hope she knows how much we appreciate her.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue our commitment to our core mission while ensuring long-term sustainability. Together—with prayer, trust in God, and your support—we can build a better future for our MentorKids, their families, and their communities.”
— Diane Erhart, Chair of the Board
A Closing Message from Aaron
Just as God brought Tammy at the right time 7 years ago, we believe He is bringing another amazing leader at the right time. Diane’s role as Board Chair is effective September 1, 2025, and Tammy will remain on the board through December 2025 to support a smooth transition.
Please join us in thanking Tammy for her service and welcoming Diane into her new role. We look forward to great things ahead!
Meet Our Board
We are grateful for the faithful leadership of our Board, past and present, who make this mission possible.