Alumni to Endow Siena Mentoring Program

A group of Siena College graduates have raised almost $300,000 so far to establish a high school mentoring program and scholarship program.

The Class of 1968 High School Mentoring Endowment will be announced at this weekend's alumni events. Many of the Siena grads were mentors during their college years. Others came from underprivileged roots, but succeeded because Siena cared for them. They have a desire to give back and this project speaks to the Franciscan values that inspire them.

The new high school program builds on a successful elementary program begun 44 years ago by Jim Snyder at Siena College. More than 2,200 young girls and boys, most from Albany, have been mentored by a similar number of college students. Each Saturday during the school year, 110 children come to Siena to do activities with their mentors. A 6-week summer camp at Siena serves many of the same children. The Class of ’68 mentoring endowment will enable more of these children to continue their relationship with Siena through high school and hopefully college.