Becoming a mentor is one of the most meaningful ways to help a young person succeed. Through United Way of Palm Beach County’s Mentor Center, adults from all backgrounds are matched with local youth who need encouragement, guidance, and a trusted adult in their lives.
You don’t need to be a teacher, counselor, or expert. We’ll provide the training, resources, and ongoing support you need to feel confident as a mentor. All you need is a caring heart, a willingness to listen, and the commitment to show up consistently.
Our Mentor Center makes it easy to become a mentor in Palm Beach County by connecting volunteers with trusted mentoring programs based on your interests, availability, and location.
More likely to be enrolled in college
More likely to participate regularly in sports or extracurricular activities
More likely to volunteer regularly in their communities
It’s normal to go into mentoring being unsure of what impact it will make, not realizing that you have the opportunity to create a positive shift in the life of a young person- impacting generations of people to come.
We can guarantee that you will change two lives through mentorship – both you and your mentee will experience incredible fulfillment.
Under our Mentor Match investment area, United Way funds and oversees 24 local mentor programs. Our Mentor Center also serves as the anchor of the Palm Beach County Mentor Network, a professional affiliation of 60 formal mentor programs working together to elevate mentoring in the community. These local mentor programs oversee nearly 6,000 mentor matches each year.
The Mentor Center, in partnership with Palm Beach County Youth Services Department and Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, offers the Level Up program that will provide mentoring opportunities for teens ages 11 to 19 years old who are directly involved with or at risk of entering the Juvenile Justice or Dependency system.
The goal of the program is to match the teens with a long-term, positive role model, make referrals to community-based services, and provide opportunities to continue education or career exploration. Three hubs will be planted across Palm Beach County to serve teens in the northern, central, and southern areas of the county.
In 2023, the Level Up Youth Mentoring Program was recognized with a Best in Category for Children and Youth Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).
Often we get asked “What does it take to be a mentor? I just don’t know if I am qualified.” Our response is usually the same. Why would you not be qualified? Your unique life experiences will help a kid navigate their path and overcome obstacles.
Being a mentor is being a listener, a guide, a support, a cheerleader, providing insight, and fostering success in others. Here are a few qualities that all mentors share:
