Letters from parents

Thank you for what the Boys to Men program has done for my son, Nathaniel. Nate is now 17 and a junior at St. Paul Central High School with a B+ average while working part time at Office Max where he is a valued employee.

In junior high, Nate was doing poorly in school and experimenting with drugs. I believe that Nate’s experience in Boys to Men has been instrumental in the turnaround in his life. The initial weekend was powerful for him, giving him tools to express his feelings especially about a difficult family situation. He valued it so much that he has in turn attended other Boys to Men weekends to staff and help provide this experience for other young men. This has also allowed him to develop his own leadership skills, which are evident now.

The friends he has made through Boys to Men have had a good influence on him (and he on them) as they have a strong common experience. This has been furthered by the monthly activities offered by Boys to Men. He looks forward to the fun outings of course, but also to the educational ones (conflict resolution for example) and to the service opportunities as well. He likes being with the young men he has met in the program, as my driving him to their houses and outings attests!

Perhaps the best and most beneficial aspect of Boys to Men to Nathaniel has been the ongoing mentoring relationship he has with a man from the program. This has helped Nate greatly, as he has a man other than his father to talk things over with and get feedback from. Some things he would rather talk over with someone else. Many times this leads to conversations between him and I, which might not have occurred so openly-if at all.

I am very grateful for the improved relationship I have with Nate and most of all for the love and mentoring Nate has received from the Boys to Men program. Please know I am an enthusiastic supporter.

Sincerely,
D.K.
Minneapolis, Minnesota

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March 2, 2004

Dear Boys to Men,

I am writing to you today to express my sincerest Thanks! The work that you have done with my son has far exceeded my expectations for the Boys to Men group.

My son has experienced one to one mentoring before, but no one has ever been ale to stick with him and keep him from pushing them away. His mentor and your organization have stuck with my son through the very worst of times and through the best of times. It has made an incredible difference in him.

My son, Aaron, also has behavioral problems where peers are concerned. The group activities that the Boys to Men group sets up, are not only good for him, but have helped him blossom with other friends. Aaron actually looks forward to weekends when there is some activity with the Boys to Men group. For that I am very grateful.

I must tell you that when Aaron first joined the Boys to Men mentoring group, and he went on the rites-of-passage weekend, I was a little curious and concerned. After thinking about it, it must have been the best thing to happen to my son. While he needs to be reminded of things over and over again to have them sink in, he now knows that he is on a journey to become a man! He understands what the Rites-of Passage weekend was about and I have seen many changes in him in the last 3 years that he has been working with and hanging out with the Boys to Men organization.

I cannot thank you, enough for what you have given my son, namely a positive male role model, to help him know how a healthy male behaves, and treats people, and should treat himself.

From a concerned mother, thank you so very much for being there for my son and being able to give him the guidance only a true friend can give.

Sincerely,
Mrs. E.M.
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

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