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Hines Mooney flashed a huge smile as he made his way into Bobby Griffin’s work area. Hines was accustomed to seeing Griffin but it was usually during lunch at Mt. Vernon Elementary School. On a recent afternoon, the rising fourth-grader and his fellow schoolmates traveled to Raymond James where they had lunch and toured the building.
Bobby Griffin, a Raymond James senior research associate, and many of his coworkers are mentors in the Lunch Pals program. For 30 minutes once a week, they have lunch and mentor students at Mt. Vernon Elementary.
“I do the mentoring program as a way to give back and I hope I can continue to find additional ways to get involved,” Griffin said. “After being a part of the program for three years now, I can truly see that it makes a big difference in a student’s life.”
Griffin said that he also has learned that mentoring makes a positive difference in his life, and it is something he looks forward to every week.
“It is amazing to see how just 30 minutes a week can have such a positive influence and difference in a student’s life,” Griffin added.
Raymond James started the program in 2013, in partnership with Mt. Vernon Elementary School. Now, the program has grown to 51 business partners, 81 schools and 707 students.
Through Lunch Pals, businesses, community organizations and individuals are paired with schools to provide students with the additional presence of a caring adult. They meet one-on-one at school during lunch.
“The program helps foster a positive environment for our students,” said Michael Feeney, High Point Elementary principal. “[Students] have something and someone to look forward to on a weekly basis. While 30 minutes may seem small in the overall course of a school week, it means the world to our children.”
Susan Schneck, the Lunch Pals coordinator, said that it is amazing to see the relationships grow and to hear the stories from mentors, students and school personnel about the positive difference Lunch Pals mentors are making.
June 5, 2017
Bobby Griffin, a Raymond James senior research associate, and many of his coworkers are mentors in the Lunch Pals program. For 30 minutes once a week, they have lunch and mentor students at Mt. Vernon Elementary.“I do the mentoring program as a way to give back and I hope I can continue to find additional ways to get involved,” Griffin said. “After being a part of the program for three years now, I can truly see that it makes a big difference in a student’s life.”
Griffin said that he also has learned that mentoring makes a positive difference in his life, and it is something he looks forward to every week.
“It is amazing to see how just 30 minutes a week can have such a positive influence and difference in a student’s life,” Griffin added.
Raymond James started the program in 2013, in partnership with Mt. Vernon Elementary School. Now, the program has grown to 51 business partners, 81 schools and 707 students.
Through Lunch Pals, businesses, community organizations and individuals are paired with schools to provide students with the additional presence of a caring adult. They meet one-on-one at school during lunch.
“The program helps foster a positive environment for our students,” said Michael Feeney, High Point Elementary principal. “[Students] have something and someone to look forward to on a weekly basis. While 30 minutes may seem small in the overall course of a school week, it means the world to our children.”
Susan Schneck, the Lunch Pals coordinator, said that it is amazing to see the relationships grow and to hear the stories from mentors, students and school personnel about the positive difference Lunch Pals mentors are making.
“Mentors often express how meaningful their relationships with their students are, finding that they are benefiting from the friendship as much as the students do,” Schneck said. “Lunch Pals is truly a winning combination, benefiting all the different audiences involved.”
To learn more about Lunch Pals go to lunchpals.org.
