“I Have a Dream”® Foundation Honors Outstanding Mentors During National Mentoring Month

Molly Johnston
Fifth grader Yeni from Columbine Elementary in Longmont is one lucky Dreamer. It hasn’t taken long (almost a year now) for Yeni and her mentor, Molly Johnston, a Human Resources Representative from Longmont, to form a very special relationship. In fact, Yeni’s eyes light up every time she talks about hanging out with Molly. Since knowing Molly, Yeni has become much more motivated academically. Teachers now compliment the IHAD staff at Columbine on how hard Yeni is working in the classroom and for her excitement to learn English. Molly is not only there for Yeni, but she has also formed strong bonds with three of Yeni’s best friends. As a positive role model for the girls, Molly has taken an active interest in their lives. Every Tuesday, Molly takes the group to cheerleading classes, which has been a new activity for the girls, and they are always excited to share their new cheers with Molly. On the weekends, Molly and girls can be found at the movies or enjoying ice cream. While having a lot of fun, Molly teaches them important life lessons and creates opportunities for them to experience new things. Whether ‘trick-or-treating’ or talking and sharing their lives with each other, Molly and Yeni have a very special bond, which was made possible by Yeni’s openness to having a friendship with an adult, and Molly’s courage to mentor a child.

Luana Richards
Luana Richards has been an invaluable asset to the Pioneer class of sixth graders at Angevine Middle School. Her commitment to the program has exposed Dreamers to many enriching activities and events, and her fundraising talents have helped the Dreamers immensely. Luana has been a wonderful mentor in her one-on-one relationship with sixth grader Amy. In her two years spent with this student, there have been substantial improvements in Amy’s attitude, outlook, and academic performance.

Luana also regularly attends field trips and other events as a chaperone, which the IHAD staff at Angevine greatly appreciates. This past holiday season, Luana has created different craft projects for the Dreamers to participate in, and she also organized a Winter Wonderland holiday event. The Winter Wonderland was a fun event for the Dreamers where they had a hayride, visited Santa Claus, had hot apple cider, and roasted marshmallows over an open fire. In addition to organizing craft events, Luana made and sold about 35 pounds of toffee made from chocolate from France in 2003 and 100 pounds of the delicious treat within the last three months, and donated the money to the to the IHAD class at Angevine for their trip to Washington D.C. Luana also sold chai tea kits for the fundraiser, and she has sold over 100 of those in the last three months too. In addition to all of her work that benefits IHAD, Luana and her husband, Mark, generously sponsored the 2005 Angevine calendar. Overall, Luana, Mark, and their daughter, Lexi, have been wonderful contributors to the future of the Dreamers at Angevine Middle School.