Gila River Indian Community Awards Grant to MentorKids USA
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]