Welcome to the 2025 BCMP Gala

This evening we begin celebrating our 10th year as an organization committed to having impact on our community by investing in our youth through meaningful mentoring relationships. 

It has been a core tenet of Boone County Mentoring Partnership that young people thrive socially, academically, and mentally when they are connected to positive adult role models. Adult mentors walking along and encouraging, giving guidance, providing new adventures or experiences, helping unleash potential and realizing dreams, passions, and abilities in young people.

A group of community members about 15 years ago had the vision to ensure every local young person earned his or her high school diploma and along the way had someone in their lives who could help them see their worth as a person. 

From that vision formed two initiatives — the Graduation Coach Program at Lebanon High School and the Mentoring Initiative that led to SCORE Mentoring at the Lebanon Boys and Girls Club. 

In 2015, the mentoring advisory board determined to evolve into its own 501(c)(3), and on December 22, 2015, Boone County Mentoring Partnership received its official designation as a non-profit organization. 

With the generosity of the Community Foundation of Boone County and Witham Health Services, BCMP had seed funding to take this vision and make it a reality. 

The generosity expanded to include the Roberts Family Foundation, Ruth Brookshire Charitable Foundation, local businesses, and our generous individual donors who first saw the vision with us and continued on as the work and impact grew. 

Sometimes I have to pause and reflect how far BCMP has come in the past ten years. There has been tremendous growth and catalyst opportunities that have enhanced the impact for young people. 

BCMP has had complementary programming through Youth Assistance Program, Tutoring, and ReadUP over the years, and the number of youth we engage has increased substantially. 

While there is a lot to celebrate, it is also clear that we are just scratching the surface of what is possible. We have seen tremendous success stories, and we have encountered hard stories. We have seen how the support of a mentor, a tutor, a system, and resources literally saves lives and breathes hope into young people. 

Thank you for being here to celebrate with us this evening and for your continued support! On behalf of the hundreds of youth we are presently working with, we are honored by your generosity and encouragement!

I hope you leave this evening inspired, encouraged, revived, and seriously consider how you might become even more involved with the mission and purpose of BCMP!

Celebrating with You,

Matt Wilson, Executive Director