First lady urges adults to become mentors [View All]

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http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/11854499.htm

First lady urges adults to become mentors

SIOBHAN McDONOUGH

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - First lady Laura Bush on Thursday said that spending time with kids brings real benefits in keeping them out of trouble, and urged more grown ups to become mentors.

"At the end of the day the most important contribution mentors make is spending time and attention with the child," Mrs. Bush told about 700 people at the Big Brothers Big Sisters conference.

The first lady cited programs around the country that offer mentoring to children, and took the opportunity to tout her initiative, Helping America's Youth, which stresses that every child needs a caring adult - a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, coach or mentor.

Mrs. Bush talked about the things that can sidetrack a child - smoking, drinking, drugs, pressures to have sex, gangs and violence - and how caring adults can help steer them away from such trouble. And with 50 million children in the United States, there is no shortage of need, she added.

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