Today in Oregon, 33,000 middle school kids have no caring adult to talk to when feeling scared, alone or afraid. More than 100,000 kids need more caring adults in their lives at a time when only 24,000 have them. At a press conference prior to the Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns game on March 4, Portland Trail Blazers rookie center Greg Oden offered up his biggest assist to date by announcing plans to partner with Oregon Mentors to call attention to the need for mentors and reward those adults already involved. Oregon Mentors is a non-profit organization unifying youth mentoring programs throughout the state.

Oregon Mentors works to expand positive life opportunities for all young Oregonians by connecting them with caring mentors through supporting the work of more than 100 unique youth mentoring programs across the state. The organization focuses on increasing the public’s awareness about the benefits to youth who are mentored; connecting new volunteers to quality mentoring programs, providing training resources to program staff and volunteers, and removing barriers to mentoring programs’ growth.

Eager to give back to the community on a more personal level and inspired by the strong mentors and role models he grew up with, the partnership with Oregon Mentors seemed to be a natural fit for Oden. Raised by a strong, caring mother whom he still looks up to today, his upbringing was also influenced heavily by two male role models. Jimmy Smith, the father of Oden’s late childhood best friend Travis, runs the Terre Haute Boys and Girls Club where the two boys spent much of their youth. Following Travis’s passing, Oden continued to lean heavily on his childhood mentor, Mr. Smith, for support. Oden found another mentor in Mike Conley, Sr., Oden’s high school basketball coach, who continues to provide guidance to the young basketball star as his agent and friend as he moves forward in his career.

“Every kid should have someone in their life that can offer the support, encouragement and confidence to believe in themselves, but a lot of kids don’t,” Oden said. “Without strong mentors, I wouldn’t be here today.”

The formation of “Team ODEN” is aimed at helping Oregon Mentors reach its goal to connect 40,000 youth with caring adult mentors by 2010. The initiative will encourage caring adults to join Team ODEN by becoming a mentor through one of the many programs Oregon Mentors supports. Hundreds of programs in Oregon offer healthy, safe mentoring relationships between adults and kids who can benefit from ongoing encouragement. In addition to the recruitment of mentors, throughout the year, Oden will host events for current Oregon Mentor volunteers and the kids they mentor. For example, Oden has purchased a block of 30 tickets to each Trail Blazers home game for mentors and mentees.

With the help of Oregon Mentors, Oden hopes to help provide Oregon kids the support system they need. By mentoring and being a part of Team ODEN, adults can provide youth in our community with positive life experiences, and just may end up getting even more out of it than they expected.

“We are excited to be working with the Trail Blazers, and with Greg Oden in particular,” said Carolyn Becic, executive director for Oregon Mentors. “Greg personally knows the impact a mentor can have on a young man’s life. Having Greg be part of our organization will not only raise awareness about the need for mentors in our state, but will also reward those who have shown their dedication to mentoring youth.”

Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can sign up for Team ODEN at www.oregonmentors.org, or learn about more than 100 affiliated mentoring programs throughout the state of Oregon.

To hear Oden talk more about mentorship, you can listen to his KEX interview with Mark and Dave.