Press Releases

United Way’s Tsonton Has Trained Over 1,300 Mentors for Morris County
Mentor Training Center Celebrating 10th Anniversary

January 14, 2008 – Morristown, NJ – - United Way of Morris County's Mentor Training & Consulting Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary this January.  Since its inception in 1998, the Center has trained volunteer mentors who then make a difference working directly with children, teens, parents, seniors, and families.  The Center is the only organization in New Jersey providing broad scale mentor training open to all members of the community.  Underwritten by United Way of Morris County, the training is always provided free of charge.

Since its founding, the driving force behind the Mentor Training Center has been the irrepressible JoAnn Tsonton.  In fact, Tsonton has taught the 12-hour training class 109 times, and trained every single graduating mentor, all 1,368 of them.

Ten years ago, Tsonton was a volunteer for United Way of Morris County when the organization was reaching out to the community to find new ways to help those in need.  Feedback from United Way partner agencies consistently pointed to the need for quality mentors to support families, teens, and children.  Yet, the agencies themselves had no resources to train the mentors they were looking for.

Tsonton spent 18 months researching all sorts of mentoring programs, ultimately deciding to create a unique curriculum for the United Way Center.  With a newly minted mission to increase the quantity and quality of mentors in Morris County, the Mentor Training Center, with Tsonton now on board at United Way as Manager, was launched in January, 1998.

The training is presented in four 3-hour sessions.  When the first class began, 19 people showed up. 
Four sessions later, 19 graduated. 

That first year, Tsonton taught four training classes.  The following year, she taught 20.  The demand
was enormous, and the need was clear.

Ten years later Tsonton, has trained over 1,700 community members, educators, clergy, teens, executives, lawyers, parents.  In addition to classes that are open to the community, she has conducted sessions at area schools, churches, corporations, and other community groups.  Her trainees have ranged in age from 13 to 86. 

All those she has trained have had one thing in common: a desire to learn more, a desire to see if mentoring someone on a one to one basis would be something they might want to do.

For most of Tsonton's graduates, the answer is yes.  But not for all.  And that's just fine with her.

"Many enroll to learn what mentoring is all about.  They enjoy the classes, and graduate with the clear realization that mentoring may not be the right fit for them, or that a mentoring relationship might not be realistic at that moment in their lives.  And that's okay, that's what the training is for!"

When asked what it takes to be a "good" mentor, Tsonton is emphatic.  "All you need is to care about people…have an interest.  There is nothing beyond that.  You become a friend, a supportive shoulder.  In fact, you never need to have all the answers!  I tell my students that the best mentors have scars on their tongues from biting back advice and directions.  The best mentors help their mentees discover answers for themselves.  They listen, and ask questions." 

The training classes are interactive, dynamic, and always highly rated by participants.

It has been noted that mentoring changes the world, two lives at a time.  Those who mentor find they get as much, if not more, out of the relationship.  Mentors develop their own leadership and coaching skills.  Most importantly, is the sense of satisfaction that mentoring brings.

About United Way of Morris County’s Mentor Training and Consulting Center
The Mentor Training and Consulting Center helps fill volunteer mentoring opportunities in local social service agencies as well as schools, religious organizations and neighborhoods. On-site training also is offered for local corporations. Mentor Training classes teach participants the basics of mentoring. Upon completion of training the students are given information on agencies within Morris County that offer mentoring programs. The Center also serves to increase public awareness and understanding of mentoring, including its needs and benefits. Mentor training is free-of-charge and open to anyone interested in becoming a mentor.

About United Way of Morris County
United Way of Morris County is dedicated to helping people and improving the quality of life for all residents. We address issues most critical to the future of Morris County by bringing attention, expertise, and resources to them. For more information, visit us on the web at www.uwmorris.org, or call 973.993.1160.

Contact 
Jean Funk
Marketing Communications
United Way of Morris County
973.993.1160, x114
Email