History & Mission

History

iMentor was founded in 1999 by hedge-fund manager John Griffin (Blue Ridge Capital), and two civil rights attorneys, Rich Buery and Matt Klein.  The program began with 49 students in one school in the South Bronx. In just over six years of operation, iMentor has provided mentors to more than 2,000 young people from over 30 NYC schools and after school programs. Annually, iMentor serves 700+ young people from some of New York City's most under-served and low income communities.

iMentor was created to solve two major problems faced by young people in under-served communities:

• Lack of mentors
• Lack of technology literacy

Despite the proven effectiveness of mentoring as a youth development strategy, millions of youth nationwide who are in need of mentors do not have them.  As well, schools and after school programs serving under-resourced communities struggle to develop strategies for using computers and the Internet as effective educational tools.  Educators need training and support in using technology to improve the lives of their students. iMentor's innovative strategies address both problems.

Mission

iMentor's mission is to improve the lives of young people from underserved communities in New York City through innovative, technology-based approaches to youth mentoring and education.

iMentor uses mentoring to bridge the divide between New York City's diverse communities so that mentees are better equipped with the skills and resources critical for (1) personal, (2) academic, and (3) career success.

The iMentor program is truly changing the face of youth mentoring. iMentor's technology-enriched mentoring model activates a previously untapped pool of potential mentors and connects them with New York City youth living in communities that traditional mentoring programs cannot reach. iMentor proves that (1) even the busiest, most successful New Yorkers have time to be quality mentors and that (2) formal mentoring programs can flourish in NYC's most isolated, low-income, and underserved communities. iMentor uses mentoring to bridge the divide between New York City's eclectic communities, creating unique and dynamic relationships that would not have been possible without the program. By exposing both mentors and mentees to new facets of their shared city, iMentor makes and facilitates meaningful connections, empowering youth with the skills and resources critical for personal, academic and career success.