At the heart of the AFK mentorship program are stories. Stories of kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Of mentors, buddies and of their friendship—which has a lifetime impact.
William and Buddy
Getting to meet with my buddy on a weekly basis has been an amazing experience. It has been awesome to see my buddy grow in different areas, and this friendship has taught me a lot about myself too. Being a mentor has taught me patience, kindness, compassion, and to always consider other’s perspectives. I always […]
Ollie and Buddy
“Being with my buddy has been a truly unforgettable experience. Not only does he manage to make me laugh all the time; but he is someone that has a great personality and is always down to try new things. Knowing I can impact my buddy makes me very happy and I look forward to seeing […]
Ian and Buddy
“I remember when I first met my buddy; I could tell he had a lot to say, he just didn’t know how. He would get excited about topics like Mario Kart but then immediately return to his state of introversion. When thinking about what I wanted to give my buddy through this mentorship I remember […]
Chelsea and Buddy
“I joined the Athletes for Kids program my sophomore year. I am currently a senior and I have grown so much the last 2 years and that is thanks to my buddy. My passion for helping others has grown tremendously and I have learned so much from her. I have grown to be more patient […]
Zachary and Buddy
“My buddy and I spend a lot of time talking about our dream cars. He has taught me countless facts about both old cars and new ones. We love to ride scooters to the park and kick around the soccer ball. Our favorite time together is when we make our own rules for chess. Throughout […]
Derek and Buddy
“Being a mentor has been an incredible journey for me so far! I have formed a close bond with my buddy and continue to look forward to seeing him every week. When first starting with AFK and meeting with my buddy, I was not entirely sure what to expect; but once we really got to […]
Sophia and Buddy
“Before becoming a part of the AFK program, I had always known that I love being with kids and being able to help or support them in any way possible. Needless to say, Athletes for Kids has given me the chance for not only that, but other ways of impact that had never crossed my […]
Davis and Buddy
“Being a part of the AFK organization, I have had amazing experiences and created friendships that will last forever. I am happy the Athletes for Kids Program gave me an opportunity to form a friendship with my buddy. I have had so much fun and learned a lot from all the hours we have spent […]
Jake and Buddy
My first year of friendship with my buddy has been amazing and I could not have asked for a better mentoring experience. Especially during quarantine, my buddy brightens my day whenever I see him. We have had to shift from in-person experiences like playing ping pong, pool, marbles and just having conversations, to FaceTime activities like sharing […]
Jake and Buddy
Being a mentor has been an amazing experience for me. Getting closer with my buddy over the past 2 almost 3 years we’ve been together has been something truly special and being able to watch his growth and our relationship get stronger as well as watching him and his friends get stronger. All of the […]