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Liza McFadden is President of the Volunteer Florida Foundation, which oversees the Florida Mentoring Partnership.
I became involved with mentoring in 1996, when I was introduced to Bernie Edwards who, at the time, worked with the Florida Lottery. He had started a mentoring program with a school in Tallahassee, and had a fervent passion for mentoring. Over the next 10 years, I was privileged to be part of a real mentoring movement in the state of Florida. I often think back to Bernie's expressed passion and ideas about how to leverage all the people power he knew: from vendors, to state agency personnel, to customers and friends.
I've been fortunate to have many mentors I my life—some of whom I sought out for their knowledge, and others who graciously shared their life experiences with me. I tip my hat to those who led me professionally—particularly Frank Brogan, former Education Commissioner and Lt. Governor in Florida, and current president of Florida Atlantic University, and Governor Jeb Bush. Both are leaders in Florida's mentoring movement. Besides mentoring adults, such as me, they also serve as weekly mentors to children in public schools.
As an avid promoter of literacy, I read, read, read. One of my favorite mentoring stories is Antwone Fisher's memoir, Finding Fish. Antwone tells the story of his life—and of the difference a mentor made in his life—in an impassioned way that reaches into your gut. Since reading the book, I've had the fortune to meet Antwone Fisher many times. Hearing him tell his story and read from Finding Fish is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. I fervently believe we must do more to find mentors for children in foster care.
Raised as one of six children, I have a philosophy that is "guided by a love of family and faith." The toughest times I have ever experienced involved a crisis in my family, including my dad's death and the severe illness of my newborn son. One reason I'm an advocate for the Children's Miracle Network is because when others touch your life, whether mentors or caregivers, you never forget them.
The Wizard of Oz. It has magic, suspense, a can-do spirit, and great songs that are still fun to sing!
I would have taken Spanish instead of four years of Latin! Living in Florida, it would have been very handy!
My favorite source of news is SayfieReview.com—I read it every morning to stay current on the key issues in Florida. It has a Blog Ticker that updates coverage of issues every 15 minutes. It's quite addicting!
When I visit schools and ask how many students have had a mentor, it is wonderful to see all the raised hands. When I ask adults the same thing, few raise their hands. I look to this new generation of mentees—students with hands raised and a belief that it is their turn to give back to another generation—to create bright futures for tomorrow's youth.
