Endorsements for the No Child book project: Where Are Our Kids From 3 to 6pm...and Beyond?

The New York City Department of Education: "The New York City Department of Education recognizes that which is implicit in the title, No Child Is Somebody Else's Child: guidance and support that children need to survive in school and in life is a job not only for schools, but also for the entire community. We applaud efforts to highlight programs that demonstrate the impact of community involvement on child and youth development."

Charles B. Rangel - Congress of the United States "One of the most important developments that are featured...is the bond that is formed between young children and the adult role models who serve as valuable mentors. These mentors are assisting in establishing a firm foundation for children to work towards the goals of educational and professional empowerment."

Charles E. Schumer - United States Senate: "The book highlights youth development programs that provide services to enrich the lives of children and adolescents from low-income, minority, and immigrant families. Providing safe places and structured activities for at-risk youth helps strengthen the safety of communities. This project will bring attention and renewed interest to mentoring and after-school programs."

Geoffrey Canada - Harlem's Children's Zone: "What I have seen throughout my 20 years working in Harlem is that a good after-school or mentoring program can turn around the life of a young person who is otherwise heading for trouble. In an arts program, for example, a kid may discover a passion for painting or poetry that can help them cut through the chaos in their lives. And by working at something they love, they learn strategies that, in turn, help them with their schoolwork and the rest of their lives. Youth development programs such as the ones in 3 to 6pm ... and beyond are helping thousands of children. Still, we need to do more."

John B. Mattingly, Commissioner - NYC Administration for Children's Services (ACS): "The fact is, young people cannot succeed alone, and they should not be expected to. Mentoring gives each of us the opportunity to learn what those who give of their time as mentors already know: that there are few things more gratifying than knowing you are helping to change someone's life for the better."

Shawn Dove - Vice President, New York Operations, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership: "If we do not commit to mentoring America's young people in our schools, community centers, workplaces and churches, they just might be mentored in America's prisons, youth gangs and street corners. More than 15 million young people still need or want a mentor. Our country needs more citizens to raise their hands to become a mentor. Mentoring works! "

Pedro A. Noguera, Ph.D. - Director, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, New York University: "Providing high quality mentoring to disadvantaged urban youth is increasingly recognized as an essential part of any serious effort to improve academic outcomes and counter some of the risks to which such children are exposed especially during the hours following the close of school. 3 to 6pm ... and beyond is a worthwhile and important initiative and worthy of your support."

Elie Ward, Executive Director - STATEWIDE YOUTH ADVOCACY, Inc.: "Investments in after-school programs for New York's children are some of the best investments we can make. They are investments that pay us dividends in creating productive and contributing members of our communities for years and years."

Luis A. Velez, Executive Director - The Catalog for Giving: "The organizations featured in these pages are among the best after-school programs in the country that incorporate mentoring components. Youth who participate in such programs are less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. They show better achievement in math and reading, develop greater confidence in their academic abilities, and demonstrate improved school attendance and completion rates. Statistics aside, as the photographs in 3 to 6pm ... and beyond vividly demonstrate, both youth and adults who participate in after-school mentoring programs have fun! Join a program today!"

Stay tuned for updates!