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Published on 10/06/1999 All articles from this issue

Partners symposium attracts adult mentors, offers options for helping troubled local youth

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

What to do about problem youth? Those looking for answers at last Thursday's Partners for New Generations youth symposium wanted to be part of the solution. The symposium connects adult volunteers with youth agencies looking to get students back on their feet.

"Something is wrong when 25 percent of high school students in Santa Clara County have binged on alcohol, 25 percent have smoked marijuana and 18 percent have planned their suicide," said Mark Bollwinkle, head pastor of the United Methodist Church in Los Altos. "We need to get involved and make something right."

The Partners for New Generations youth symposium is held every year, looking for volunteers to help local youth programs.

This year's symposium featured 17 agencies offering "breakout" sessions to brief volunteers on opportunities.

Joe Eyck, announcer for the San Jose Sharks and sports forums on KFRC, said students in affluent areas have the same problems the kids in the inner-city have, only people tend to mask them behind big cars in the driveways and large homes in the hills.

"When you volunteer, you benefit youth and everyone else. We need to take an interest now to help youth succeed in the future," he said.

The program is sponsored by the three Rotary clubs in Los Altos and Mountain View and the Los Altos Community foundation. Started four years ago by Rotarian Marge Bruno, 140 volunteers are currently in the program. One volunteer, Bob Adams, past president of the Los Altos Rotary, volunteers in the Alta Vista basketball program.

He and wife Lois volunteer in these programs because "you walk away with heart-warming things."

"We change the world one human heart at a time and the best time is when that heart is young," Bollwinkle said. "When we volunteer, we are the rescue squad in our community. If you and I are the rescue squad, we help children and help change the world."

Adams said the reason for the symposium is to put people in contact with the agencies that assist today's youth.

"If you have a desire to volunteer as a tutor, mentor or coach a sport, we can find something for you. If you have a favorite cause, we can help you volunteer with that agency," Adams said.

Some of the agencies requesting help include El Camino YMCA, the city of Mountain View, Partners in Education, Sports at Noon, Dreams and Futures, the Community Health Awareness Council, the American Red Cross and the East Palo Alto Teen Home.

To volunteer, or for more information, call 949-0828, ext. 44.