Pender TeamMates Mentoring Program

06/11/2026

Happy Birthday, Amanda! 🥳

Today, we are celebrating a mentor who brings incredible heart and dedication to everything she does! Amanda has been matched with her mentee since the spring of 2024, and she is a wonderful example of a mentor who shows up to listen, encourage, and help her student discover their best self.

When she isn't spending time with her mentee, Amanda is a true hometown hero. Between her work as a Registered Nurse at a local hospital, her service with the elderly, and commitment to the local rescue squad, she is always looking out for Pender.

Beyond her service, Amanda knows how to have a good time—whether she’s hunting, camping, fishing, or out dancing and singing! 🩺🏕️💃

Amanda, thank you for your commitment to our students and for all the ways you serve our community. We hope your day is as fun and amazing as you are! 🌟

06/04/2026

Today, we are celebrating a man who has been a pillar of our program since 2016. Verdel is a dedicated mentor who walked alongside his first mentee from 2016 all the way through his high school graduation in 2023! He is now continuing that legacy of commitment by investing in his second mentee who he matched with in 2023.

We still vividly remember that very first match meeting back in 2016. His mentee had been waiting for just the right caring adult to spend time with him each week, and when they finally met, that young man’s face completely lit up!

We can't tag Verdel here because he stays off social media, but you can certainly celebrate him in person! If you see him around today—likely getting a workout in at Anytime Fitness, practicing his swing at Twin Creeks, or enjoying time with his wife and family—please stop and wish him a very Happy Birthday!

TeamMates simply cannot fulfill our mission without people like Verdel who show up with such consistency and heart.

Happy Birthday, Verdel! ⛳️🎉

05/29/2026

Happy Birthday, Raegan ! 🎂🥳

Whether she’s working her magic as an Occupational Therapist at Pender Community Hospital or sharing her heart with her mentee, Raegan’s compassion and dedication make our whole community better!

The excitement doesn’t stop there… Raegan is also gearing up for her biggest "new match" yet—she’s becoming a new momma this June! Even with her busy schedule at the hospital and prepping for baby, she never misses a beat with her mentee.

Raegan, we hope your day is as wonderful as the impact you make every single week! Enjoy every minute of your celebration!

Help us celebrate! Don't forget to leave your birthday messages below for Raegan! 👇

05/28/2026

Happy Birthday, Monica! 🎂🎉

As a dedicated Nurse at our local hospital and a busy mom to two littles, Monica’s schedule is always full—but her heart is even fuller! Since joining TeamMates, she has shown that being "busy" is just an opportunity to make a bigger impact.

Monica brings that incredible "nurse’s heart" and mom-level patience to her mentee every single week. Whether she’s coming off a long shift or navigating the whirlwind of parenthood, she always shows up with a smile and a listening ear. We are so lucky to have her as part of Pender TeamMates.

Monica, we hope your birthday is filled with a little bit of "me time" and a whole lot of celebration! You deserve it!

Let’s show Monica some love! Drop a birthday message for her in the comments below!

05/26/2026

Hey Pender TeamMates Mentors!

Are you ready to help us reach our goal of "80% voice" survey completion? A HUGE THANK YOU to the 46% of you who have already completed the survey!

We promise this is our final request (at least for this school year 😆)! Please take a quick break, find that individualized survey link in your inbox, and share your voice!

Let's do this!

05/23/2026

05/20/2026

School might be out for summer, but over the next couple of weeks we are sharing some amazing new matches that kicked off this spring! ☀️🌱

Meet Krista and Harper!

Krista has been an awesome TeamMates mentor since December 2023. When her original mentee transferred schools, she was ready to pour that same dedication into a new match—and this past April, she was paired with Harper!

Harper is no stranger to the TeamMates world. Her mom is a mentor and serves on the local TeamMates board! Plus, walking through the school halls and moving from special to special (PE, Art, Music, Library), Harper saw other matches meeting. Watching those friendships grow built up a huge "want" in her to have a mentor of her own. This spring, that wish came true! 🎉

Program-wide data shows that 94% of mentees report they are proud to be in TeamMates. By the look of those two beautiful smiles, we think it’s safe to say both Krista and Harper are incredibly PROUD!

Join us in celebrating this wonderful new match! 👇❤️

05/13/2026

What a fun morning celebrating another amazing year of TeamMates! You know a relationship is special when there is a twinkle in everyone's eye at 7:30 in the morning.

Even though the school year is coming to an end, we still have students who are eager to be part of the TeamMates program. We hope you’ll take that next step and complete an application to be a mentor! We would love to tell our students when they return from a jam-packed summer: "We have a mentor for you!"

We can guarantee they will have LOTS of summer adventures to share with you this fall! ☀️🐉

05/13/2026

We are putting a pause on our usual Mentee Wisdom today to give a massive shout-out to our Pender TeamMates scholarship winner, Derek!

Derek graduated this past Sunday, and we couldn't let the week go by without honoring this well-deserved achievement. While we aren't sharing a specific tip today, we can't help but say that Derek's mentor played an important part in his success. Because when a mentor consistently shows up for our youth, they are helping them reach their full potential.

Congratulations on your graduation and your scholarship, Derek! We can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll achieve in your next chapter!🎓