Rob Traver volunteers for the Partners Mentoring Program which offers him a way to share his wisdom and enjoy activities with a child. "I get to give back and have an excuse to go down the water slide."

Rob commits four hours a week, working with an at-risk youth. "We focus on homework for the first half-hour. After that we'll go for a bike ride, cook dinner, or watch a movie."

Rob describes his experience as being more rewarding than expected, "At the end of the day, I feel as though I've made an impact. However, the best part is I don't feel as though I've sacrificed anything-nothing has disappeared from my life, but a lot has been added."

Rob says, "It's easy to donate money, but for my modest contribution of time, I'm rewarded with a feeling of gratitude. I encourage my partner to be nice to his family and to help out at home. Simple messages of expectations can have a surprising impact."

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