WOW! Indianapolis Supports our Scholars and Mentorship in a Big Way.

July 3, 2009 – If we weren’t certain before, we are now – Indianapolis is 100% behind its mentors! Members of the political, philanthropic, education, arts, and sports communities nearly crowded Mentor Services Director Bob Goodrum off the roof of our headquarters during his 48-hour rooftop campaign to recruit more mentors.

At 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, father and son team George and George of N&S Tree Service in Greenwood lifted Bob in a good old-fashioned cherry picker to the roof of our newly-renovated offices at 814 N. Delaware Street. The lift was photographed by FOX 59 and WTHR 13 on that clear and cool morning. Only twenty minutes into his stay, Bob was talking live with FOX 59’s morning co-hosts Scott Cline and Angela Ganote. The phone rang before the live talk was finished.

That was just the beginning. Despite breaking news of the General Assembly’s budget wranglings and the possibility of a government shut-down, Bob’s outing was also covered by WISH-TV 8 and WRTV 6 and the Indianapolis Star. Terri Stacy and Big Joe Staysniak of WIBC joined Bob on the roof at 6:00 a.m. to broadcast live Wednesday morning and WXNT morning talk show host Abdul Hakim Shabazz chatted with Bob a couple hours later at 8:40 a.m.

First Lady Cheri Daniels joined Bob on the roof between gentle rain showers Wednesday morning, July 1, but the threat of a little precipitation didn’t dampen her spirits. That afternoon, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard disregarded some light rain and joined Bob on the roof. During Mayor Ballard’s scissors-lift ride up, he laughed aloud when greeted with a high-volume “Hail to the Chief” played by visiting rooftop DJ’s Justin Kirby and Joel Nowacki of Track Seven. In the parking lot below, Mrs. Ballard laughed, too (as did the Mayor’s otherwise stone-faced security officer).

The event would not have been complete, of course, without including our Scholars. Nineteen of our best and brightest from more than 10 Marion County public, private, parochial and charter high schools joined us Wednesday to welcome Mayor Ballard and Mrs. Ballard, and Mrs. Daniels. Scholar Mechelle Edwards greeted the Ballards and Mrs. Daniels and presented them with a new Starfish Initiative cap created for the occasion.

There are too many thanks to offer! More than 60 public and private individuals, organizations and companies contributed to this effort to raise awareness and recruit mentors.

By the time George and George arrived to pluck Bob from the roof at 8:00 a.m., Thursday, July 2, we were tired, happy, and content in knowing that Indianapolis backs its mentors. Thank you Indianapolis and Marion County!