MentorKids Stories & Updates
Press releases, MentorMoments, announcements, reflections, and real-life updates from across our Promise Neighborhoods.
The Charro Foundation Awards Grant to MentorKids USA
A grant from The Charro Foundation will help MentorKids USA continue providing mentorship, academic support, leadership development, and enrichment opportunities for K–12 students in the Paiute Promise Neighborhood.
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from The Charro Foundation in support of youth leadership and development programs within its Paiute Promise Neighborhood in South Scottsdale.
Established in 2018, the Paiute Promise Neighborhood provides year-round support for local youth through after-school programming, summer enrichment opportunities, mentorship, academic support, and leadership development. Currently serving 60 K–12 students, Paiute creates opportunities for young people to build the skills, confidence, and relationships needed for long term success.
"We are deeply grateful to The Charro Foundation for investing in the lives of students and families in South Scottsdale," said Aaron Parrott, Executive Director of MentorKids USA. "Support from community partners like The Charro Foundation helps ensure that young people have access to meaningful opportunities that strengthen academic achievement, leadership development, and long-term success."
MentorKids USA currently serves more than 600 K–12 youth annually through six Promise Neighborhoods across the Phoenix metropolitan area. Through comprehensive, no-cost youth development programs, MentorKids supports students academically, socially, and personally from elementary school through high school graduation.
For more information about MentorKids USA and its programs, visit www.mentorkidsusa.org.
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]
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Awards Summer Reading Grant to MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA received a generous summer reading grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation in support of its no-cost Summer Enrichment Program. The funding will help provide literacy materials, educational resources, and reading-focused activities for more than 300 students across six Promise Neighborhoods, strengthening reading skills and supporting academic engagement during the summer months.
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation in support of Summer Reading and our no-cost Summer Enrichment Program.
MentorKids USA’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) provides K–8 students in underserved communities with consistent literacy support, academic enrichment, and hands-on learning opportunities during critical out-of-school time. A core focus of the program is strengthening reading skills through daily reading activities, small-group literacy instruction, and engaging educational experiences. Through a safe, supportive environment, students build confidence, improve academic engagement, and develop the foundational skills needed for long-term success. Funding from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports these literacy efforts and helps ensure this programming is provided at no cost to families.
Currently serving students across six Promise Neighborhoods throughout the Valley, MentorKids USA’s Summer Enrichment Program will support more than 300 youth this summer through literacy enrichment, leadership development, STEAM activities, healthy living education, and relationship centered mentorship.
Support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation will help provide literacy materials, educational resources and reading-focused activities that encourage students to strengthen their reading skills, remain academically engaged during the summer months, and build a lifelong love of learning.
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]
OneAZ Community Foundation Awards Grant to MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA is growing its iLEAD My Generation program thanks to a new grant from OneAZ Community Foundation — empowering high schoolers to lead, earn, and serve their communities.
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from OneAZ Community Foundation in support of its iLEAD My Generation Program – an innovative four-year high school leadership and mentoring initiative.
The iLEAD My Generation program (Leadership, Exploration, Academics, and Discovery) equips high school students in underserved communities with critical job training, academic support, and leadership development. A defining feature of the program is its paid mentorship model, where participants serve as assistant teachers and role models for younger children in MentorKids’ afterschool and summer programs. Through this hands-on experience, students build real-world skills, confidence, and a strong sense of purpose.
“We are incredibly grateful to the OneAZ Community Foundation for this generous investment in the lives of the youth we serve,” said Aaron Parrott, Executive Director of MentorKids USA. “This funding allows us to deepen our impact and expand opportunities for students to grow into confident, capable leaders within their families and communities.”
Currently serving students in South Phoenix, North Phoenix (Palomino), South Scottsdale (Paiute), and the Maryvale Promise Neighborhoods, iLEAD is transforming the trajectory of teens at high risk of becoming disconnected—those who are neither in school nor working. The program consistently demonstrates strong outcomes in school attendance, academic achievement, leadership development, and high school graduation.
Support from the OneAZ Community Foundation will help sustain and expand iLEAD My Generation, ensuring more students are empowered to graduate high school and take meaningful next steps toward college, careers, and lifelong success.
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]
MentorKids USA Named a Hidden Gem by Voyage Phoenix Magazine
Voyage Phoenix Magazine recently featured Executive Director Aaron Parrott in their Hidden Gems series—spotlighting the mission, the model, and the people behind MentorKids USA. It's a story about showing up, staying the course, and what happens when you invest deeply in young people over time.
VoyagePhoenix recently featured Executive Director Aaron Parrott in their Hidden Gems series—spotlighting the mission, the model, and the people behind MentorKids USA. It's a story about showing up, staying the course, and what happens when you invest deeply in young people over time.
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.
UFG Foundation Awards Grant to MentorKids USA
MentorKids USA is honored to be supported by a grant from the UFG Foundation, furthering a shared commitment to service, empowerment, and lasting community impact. This funding will help sustain and expand MentorKids USA’s year-round programming for K–12 students, providing academic support, mentoring, leadership development, and safe, consistent out-of-school environments across its Promise Neighborhoods. Through this investment, MentorKids USA will continue equipping students to thrive in school and beyond while creating a lasting ripple effect of building leaders who build leaders.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2026
Phoenix, AZ – MentorKids USA is honored to announce it has received a generous grant from the UFG Foundation in support of its year-round youth programming, strengthening shared commitments to service, empowerment, and lasting community impact.
In partnership with local organizations, MentorKids USA provides free, year-round programming for K–12 students designed to remove barriers and open pathways to academic success, leadership development, and future opportunities. Through after-school programs, a tiered high school leadership and workforce development initiative, and summer enrichment program, students receive academic support, mentoring, life skills training, STEAM learning, physical activity, and access to safe, consistent environments during out-of-school time.
MentorKids USA’s Promise Neighborhood model reflects UFG’s focus on people, service, and growth by investing in youth, strengthening families, and fostering long-term community development. Grounded in Academic Excellence, Leadership Development, and Life Skills, the organization provides place-based, individualized support that equips students to thrive in school and beyond. MentorKids USA currently serves youth in South Phoenix, North Phoenix (Palomino), South Scottsdale (Paiute), Maryvale, and Tempe.
“We are deeply grateful to the UFG Foundation for this meaningful investment in our students and families,” said Aaron Parrott, Executive Director of MentorKids USA. “Their partnership reinforces our shared commitment to building trust, empowering young people, and creating opportunities that lead to lifelong success.”
This grant will help sustain and expand MentorKids USA’s comprehensive programming, ensuring students receive consistent, high-quality support that creates a generational ripple effect of building leaders who build leaders.
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]
Mentoring That Lasts: A Conversation on Faith, Leadership, and Long-Term Impact
Mentoring rarely begins with a formal program. More often, it starts with presence—someone choosing to show up, listen, and invest in another person’s life. In a recent You Can Mentor podcast episode, MentorKids USA Executive Director Aaron Parrott reflects on the moments and mentors that shaped his leadership and continue to guide the heart of MentorKids’ work today.
Mentoring rarely begins with a formal program or a carefully written plan. More often, it starts with presence—someone choosing to show up, listen, and invest in another person’s life.
That theme sits at the heart of a recent conversation featuring MentorKids USA Executive Director Aaron Parrott on the You Can Mentor podcast, hosted by Zach Garza. In this thoughtful episode, Aaron reflects on the experiences and mentors that shaped his leadership journey—and how those lessons continue to guide the work of MentorKids today.
A Story That Shaped a Leader
Aaron shares a formative moment from his childhood as a missionary kid living in Argentina. At just eleven years old, he found himself alone in a hospital after an emergency appendectomy—far from home, culture, and familiarity. A man from his church, someone who barely knew him, showed up simply to sit with him.
There was no agenda. No title. No recognition.
That simple act of presence left a lasting impression. It became a lived example of what mentoring truly is: recognizing someone’s worth and choosing to invest time, care, and consistency—especially when nothing is gained in return.
From Personal Story to Organizational Vision
Throughout the episode, Aaron connects those early experiences to the evolution of MentorKids USA. He discusses the organization’s shift from short-term, one-to-one mentoring toward its long-term Promise Neighborhood model—an approach rooted in sustainability, community partnership, and generational impact.
The conversation explores:
Why humility and obedience matter in leadership
The importance of long-term commitment to specific neighborhoods
How MentorKids measures impact across academics, spiritual growth, and leadership development
What it truly means to build leaders who build leaders
Aaron also speaks candidly about leadership challenges, learning from mentors, and the discipline of staying faithful to foundational practices—especially when growth feels slow or unseen.
Why This Conversation Matters
For anyone involved in mentoring, nonprofit leadership, or faith-based community work, this episode offers more than strategy. It offers perspective: a reminder that meaningful change is often built quietly, through consistency, humility, and trust.
Mentoring done well isn’t flashy—but it lasts.
Listen to the Episode
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-can-mentor-a-christian-youth-mentoring-podcast/id1474640776
🎧 Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3moZSnCB9HjDBgMeOPLJo7?si=fe9dc87ab24a469e
To learn more about MentorKids USA and the work happening in our Promise Neighborhoods, visit www.mentorkidsusa.org.
We’re grateful for opportunities like this to share the heart behind the work—and for the mentors, partners, and supporters who make long-term impact possible.