Volunteer Suzanne Venino has found friendship and fun through her volunteering with the Partners Mentoring Program. Venino has been volunteering to be a friend and role model for her junior partner for a little over five years. They get together about once a month and talk on the phone once a week.

"Partners Mentoring Program puts a lot of effort into creating a well-matched partnership between the junior and senior partners. We're good friends," Venino said of her relationship with her partner. Despite their age difference, they share similar interests. Venino's junior partner has never said no to any outing that Venino has suggested.

They go to the Longmont Library, the Longmont Museum, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science together. They have attended plays, concerts, and CU women's basketball games as well. They also enjoy reading and discussing books, cooking, and just spending time together.

The mission of the Partners Mentoring Program is to make a difference in the lives of at-risk young people by helping them develop a positive self-image, a sense of belonging, and an acceptance of responsibility through one-to-one mentoring. The organization serves at-risk youth in Boulder and Broomfield counties.

"Suzanne has been a Senior Partner for many years," said Joan Martin, Recruitment Coordinator at Partners Mentoring Program. "She has been a positive mentor to her junior partner. She is always cheerful and helpful to our organization. She volunteers to assist us at our fundraiser each year and with many other activities. Suzanne is a wonderful volunteer and supporter of Partners Mentoring Program."

Venino, a magazine editor, also takes time to donate blood, and she has volunteered as a wilderness trail host for the Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance.

Partners Mentoring Program is currently looking for more dedicated volunteers like Suzanne Venino. "It's just a heck of a lot of fun. It's really about being there for them and being a friend. Partners has been a wonderful organization to work with. I've gotten to be friends with the people who work there as well." said Venino.

For information about volunteering with the Partners Mentoring Program or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904, or go to our Volunteer Central.