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Press Release, August 22, 2005
For Immediate Release — August 22, 2005
The Point Foundation Expands Mentoring Program for GLBT Students
Program Provides Network of Academic, Professional and Emotional Support for Students Marginalized by Family, Friends and Community
New York, NY, August 22, 2005. Today, the Point Foundation Mentoring Program was officially expanded, initiating outreach to the public to recruit mentors for the 2005-06 academic year. The Point Foundation is an organization that provides financial support and mentoring to outstanding students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation or gender identity. Every year, Point Scholars are matched with leaders across the professions who are committed to the welfare of The Point Foundation and the greater GLBT community.
“The Point Foundation’s Mentoring Program has been enormously successful as a resource to our scholars,” said Vance Lancaster, executive director of the Foundation. “We’re very excited about expanding the program to bring in an even wider range of mentors as the number of Point Scholars grows,” he said.
Typically, mentors and students are in contact with one another at least once a week and meet when time and travel permit. Each mentor and student are expected to establish a yearly set of goals and objectives. In addition, mentors work closely with scholars on community service and leadership projects, networking, and securing summer internships in the scholar’s field of interest. The mentor serves as an advisor, coach and confidant to the student. The Point Foundation looks for mentors who are able to commit to a lifelong partnership with the scholar as well as the Foundation.
“As a Point Scholar, my relationship with my mentor has been vital to my continued academic success and future career path,” said Julie Schell, coordinator of the Mentoring Program and a recipient of a Point Scholarship in 2003. Schell, whose mentor is one of three out gay college Presidents, Charles Middleton of Roosevelt University, is currently pursuing her doctorate in Higher Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Current Point Foundation Mentors include doctors, lawyers, actors and actresses, businessmen and women, philanthropists, artists and more.
To become a Point Foundation Mentor, contact Julie Schell at julie@thepointfoundation.org.
About the Point Foundation
The Point Foundation provides financial support, mentoring and hope to meritorious students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Point Foundation seeks the partnership of philanthropic individuals, corporations and foundations to supply financial support, professional guidance and a network of contacts for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students who are underprivileged and/or have been socially marginalized — principally by reason of sexual orientation or gender identity.
For more information on the Point Foundation and the Mentoring Program, go to www.thepointfoundation.org.
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